LA City Council Member Caught in Racist Recording Announces Reelection Bid

Democratic Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin De León announced he is running for reelection following controversy over an audio recording where the local official was caught using racist language.

The taped conversation was released last year and included de León, then-LA City Councilmember Gil Cedillo, and then-City Council President Nury Martinez in a conversation about redistricting that included racial slurs.

At one point Martinez, who has since resigned, referred to the Black child of another city council member as a "monkey."

De León apologized after the release of the tape. A number of Democrats, including President Joe Biden, called for the city council members to resign.

"When a lot of people that I called my friends and allies turned away from me, my constituents had my back," de León told Politico in a Wednesday interview. "I understood in a deeper way the relationship that I had with my community and how that motivates and drives me. That’s why I’m still here. And that’s why I’m running."

Democratic Assemblymembers Miguel Santiago and Wendy Carrillo both previously announced they are running for de León's seat.