Skip to content 
Early voting has opened, and polls are out and the entertainment community is awaiting the results of a midterm election that could have a big impact on Hollywood.
The industry, battered by strikes, job cuts and endless media consolidation, is at a crossroads — especially in Los Angeles. Even as California fought to pass a $750 million tax credit program, it’s still outnumbered by competing states and countries with more lucrative incentives, and the days of production firing located here are still dwindling.
It’s against that backdrop that several key races are playing out, the most lucrative — and competitive — as the face-off between mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, which is effectively tied for the Nov. 3 election, but an LA Times poll found 19% of Angelenos are still undecided.
There is also a contest between gubernatorial candidates Democrat Xavier Beccera and Republican Steve Hilton.
Here’s what these top California candidates have to say about Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
Mayor of Los Angeles
Mayor Karen Bass reiterated that her advocacy for the entertainment industry in California has been part of her campaign for decades. She said she was one of the politicians in Sacramento who fought for the first tax credit program when she was Speaker of the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2010.
If re-elected, the owner said she would retain the role of film czar she created just last year and continue to expand business support at the city level. Bass was criticized for taking three years into her term before hiring a film czar to ease production problems in L.A. She appointed Board of Public Works president Steve Kang as film liaison in August 2025.
Her plan also says she will maintain “concierge-style services” that streamline licensing and support for film and TV productions. However, there has been a decline in overall productions and distribution of film works under Bass.
Bass is endorsed by the Council of the International Federation of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and Teamsters 399 (Hollywood Teamsters).
District 4 Council Member Nithya Raman has always said that Hollywood is a personal matter for her. The council member’s husband is a TV writer-producer, working on “Modern Family,” “30 Rock” and “The Four Seasons,” to name a few.
The mayor’s candidate has complained that city licensing is slow and unpredictable under current management, that departments conflict with each other and that taxes are going up even on the smallest shoes. If elected, she said she would staff the LA Film Office with people with industry experience.
Raman said she would engage with studios and production companies to promote local production. She also said that she would work to reduce and eliminate fees for smaller productions so that indie and mid-sized projects could shoot in LA.
The mayor has previously accused Raman of having a weak legislative record, pointing the finger at the council member for not fighting for Hollywood.
Raman is WGA endorsed.
Both Bass and Raman have said they would advocate for an unlimited film tax credit program at the state level. The candidates have also said they would advocate for a federal film tax credit program, which lawmakers hope to push through this year.
Governor of California
Xavier Becerra is the Democratic candidate for governor of California, defeating his Democratic peers in a highly contested primary race. He has extensive experience in public service, and most recently served as the US Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden.
Becerra said on his website that he would protect and expand the state’s $750 million tax credit cap, but it was unclear whether he would include “above the line” wages in the tax credit program or not combine it — elements that would help California compete with other states such as New York and New Jersey.
“I will sit down with all the legislators to see what kind of proposals will be put before us,” he said.
Becerra argued that his experience with the first federal film and TV tax credit program makes him well-equipped to deal with the production crisis plaguing the state.
The gubernatorial candidate said in the primary debate that he would support a state tax credit as long as the state receives at least $1 in return for every dollar it provides in tax credits. Even if Congress passes the federal film incentive, state lawmakers argue that California needs to do more to compete for film jobs.
As for permitting, Becerra said he will work to “clean up the bureaucratic clutter that turns a permit application into a multi-agency problem, giving California’s pristine locations back to the productions that want to shoot in them.”
He said he will also push for a more formal state-local incentive structure to encourage local governments to compete with other competitive film markets.
Steve Hilton released its latest plan to support Hollywood earlier this month. The Republican candidate, supported by President Trump, has definitively promised to eliminate the $750 million cap on state film incentives and to include actors’ salaries and “above the line” costs in the program.
California offers a 35% tax credit on all below-the-line expenses for films and TV shows selected by the state film commission, with bonuses up to 45%. Hilton proposed a 40% state tax credit for production and even considered going as high as 50% for five years. Hilton also promised to introduce commercials, documentaries and reality TV into the tax credit program to make California more competitive.
At the gubernatorial debate this fall, Hilton blamed Becerra and the Democrats for burning Hollywood.
“Who has been in charge when all these jobs have gone, when this industry has collapsed?” he asked. “The [California] The Democrats have been in charge for 16 years, and the jobs are gone, the businesses are gone, and this city, this iconic industry, is about to collapse,”
The applicant said that he would implement continuous approvals for production permits, so that producers would receive answers from the state within 30 days. He said he would also appoint a Governor’s Production Supervisor to resolve licensing issues across state agencies and work directly with local governments.
Both supports a federal film incentive, introduced in Congress last month, that would create a 20% tax credit on all US labor costs.
California Attorney General
California AG Rob Bontawho has been outspoken against mergers and acquisitions in Hollywood, is up for re-election this midterm season. The legal official led an antitrust lawsuit in July to block Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery before settling in September.
Bonta also sued to block a megamerger between broadcast giants Nexstar and Tegna. The union closed in March after receiving approval from the FCC, but is in legal limbo due to the state lawsuit.
As for keeping production in California, Bonta has been an advocate for competition especially in the entertainment industry.
Bonta has also been accused of undermining the Paramount-WBD union due to David Ellison’s threat to move out of state and pressure from Gov. California Gavin Newsom, Bass and Becerra. Bonta denied the idea that he was pressured into settling.
If re-elected, the attorney general said he would support a bill to eliminate the tax credit cap entirely. He was sworn in as attorney general in 2021. He previously served as a member of the California State Assembly from 2012 to 2021.
His opponent Michael E. GatesThe Republican Assistant Attorney General, has made no public statements about the entertainment industry.
His campaign website outlines several issues the candidate plans to advocate on if elected, including public safety, police funding, mismanagement of tax dollars, second amendment protections and addressing homelessness.
Proposition 40: Billionaire Tax
Prop 40, also known as the “billionaire tax” is a one-time, 5% tax on the assets of billionaires who visit California home. The money would go to health care.
Advocates, including California Democrats, say it will be a stopgap measure to compensate for federal funding cuts. Among the biggest opponents of the measure is Gov.
Other famous races
Rick Zburwho co-authored the state’s tax credit expansion, is up for re-election in California’s 51st Senate District. He is challenged on his left by the digital communication strategy Colin Hernandez. Zbur received 54% of the vote in the primary election.
Ben Allanwho also co-wrote the tax credit extension, will not run for re-election and is instead running for insurance commissioner. Two Democratic candidates Brian Goldsmithbillionaire funded Dem strategy, and John Ericksonmember of the WeHo city council, is running to take his seat for the 24th State Senate District in California.
