‘I’m Italian’: Los Angeles mayoral contender says he’s not white

The Republican candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, Rick Caruso, faced criticism and mockery after claiming in a debate that he was not white but "Latin", because he is Italian American.

He was responding to a question about the racial identity of the two candidates: him and Karen Bass, an African American Democratic congresswoman.

Moderating the debate on Tuesday night, the Telemundo journalist Dunia Elvir said: "And this question goes for the both of you. The next mayor of Los Angeles will be either an African American woman or a white man."

"I'm Italian," Caruso said.

"Italian American," Elvir said, with a chuckle.

"Thank you, that's Latin," Caruso said.

After a pause, Elvir proceeded with her question.

The debate was the last one before the 8 November election. A clip of Caruso's comment spread rapidly on Twitter.

"White identity has always been elastic, and it certainly now includes white Italians such as Rick Caruso," tweeted Jamil Smith, a writer for the Los Angeles Times.

"It isn't so pliant that Italians should be equated to Latinas without common parentage. I can't tell whether he was trying to pander to Latina voters, gaslight them, or both."

Another user tweeted: "Europeans will correct you so fast for reducing their heritage to 'white'. The very same people who created the concept of race!"

Another claimed: "I think this proves that it's now to your political detriment to be white in LA. Terrible self-own for Californians who try to pass themselves off as the least racist in the country."

The debate came amid explosive revelations about racist comments made by Nury Martinez, now a former president of the Los Angeles city council, about the son of a council member, Mike Bonin, and others with Indigenous heritage.

Leaked audio led to Martinez resigning as president and stepping down from the council.

It was one of the first issues brought up during the mayoral debate. Bass said Martinez needed to quit. Caruso said he would have "zero tolerance for corruption" and would "change the culture of city hall".