Rick Caruso is out.
The billionaire developer of Rosewood Miramar Beach, Palisades Village, The Grove and Americana at Brand confirmed late Friday he will not be running for elected office this year. The Instagram post let the air out of speculation about whether Caruso would make another bid for Los Angeles mayor or try the larger stage of California’s gubernatorial campaign.
Caruso said he weighed where he can be most impactful and considered what public office might mean for his family in making his decision.
“After much reflection and heartfelt conversations with my family, I have decided not to pursue elected office at this time,” he wrote. “It is a difficult decision, and I am deeply disappointed to step back from an election I believe is so critical to California’s future.”
Caruso’s name emerged in political conversations in January after the Palisades and Eaton fires ripped through the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Altadena. The developer was vocal in his critiques of city bureaucracy, while also establishing the nonprofit Steadfast LA aimed at public-private partnerships to expedite rebuilding post-fires.
One of the biggest victories of that work for real estate is the pending possibility of a Measure United to House LA carveout for Palisades residential homeowners impacted by the fire. That exemption to the so-called mansion tax was proposed by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass to the City Council in October, a request that stemmed from a meeting with Caruso, who was credited with bringing the idea to the table.
Steadfast also worked with the city on the rebuilding of the Palisades Recreation Center. Meanwhile, Caruso’s company intends to reopen the Palisades Village shopping center this year once renovations are completed. The reopening is seen as a boon to helping woo back more residents to the neighborhood.
Based on Caruso’s announcement Friday, he appears committed to continuing the Steadfast LA work.
“Public service does not require a title. It is, and will always be, my calling,” he wrote. “I remain devoted to serving our communities in every way I can, just from a different seat.”
Current landscape
Chatter had mounted about another go at a political office, in what would have been a second bid after Caruso lost to Bass in the 2022 mayoral election.
Friday’s announcement may not be surprising to some, given this year’s political calendar. Indeed, the developer last year said he was weighing his options and would make a decision about a political run at the end of the summer. The primaries for L.A. mayor is set for June 2, with the general election Nov. 3 and a crowded sea of candidates that total 23, including Bass.
Former “The Hills” reality TV star Spencer Pratt was the most recent to announce his bid for mayor during a rally earlier this month on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Outside of Pratt, Democratic Socialist of America member Rae Chen Huang is considered to be another longshot in the mayoral race. Meanwhile, there’s also Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent Austin Beutner in the field, along with a host of lesser-known candidates.