Disney’s Bob Iger Eyed for LA Mayor Amid Karen Bass California Wildfire Controversy

January 20, 2025  ·
  Marvin Montanaro
Bob Iger

Bob Iger via New York Times Events YouTube

Could Bob Iger become the next mayor of Los Angeles? One elected official certainly seems to think Disney’s big boss could be the next LA mayor.

California Congressman Ro Khanna, a former supporter of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, is calling for a major change in the city’s leadership. In the wake of devastating wildfires that exposed LA’s lack of preparedness, Khanna has suggested that Disney CEO Bob Iger should step into the political arena and challenge Bass for the mayoral seat.

 

“Someone who should be running for LA mayor is Bob Iger,” Khanna said. “He’s someone I know very well. He’s the leader of Disney. He’s a remarkable person. He had thought about running for president… And we need a new leadership in the state of California.”

While he had endorsed Bass during her mayoral campaign, Khanna now believes new leadership is essential.

“I’m hopeful [Iger] will do it,” Khanna said. “I don’t know if he will, but I’m hopeful he will.”

Bob Iger

Bob Iger | 2019 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony | D23 EXPO 2019. Photo Credit: nagi usano from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Khanna emphasized that Iger’s business acumen could be a game-changer for Los Angeles, during what he described as “a moment of crisis.” He also stated that Iger would be “phenomenal” in the role, particularly as the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games.

Khanna confirmed he has spoken directly to Iger about the possibility, noting the Disney CEO’s prior political ambitions.

“He wanted to run for president, and for a number of reasons, I think he didn’t,” Khanna said. “But I want new leadership across the state of California, and we certainly need dynamic leadership in Los Angeles.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger

Bob Iger via CNBC Television YouTube

Khanna didn’t mince words about his enthusiasm for Iger as a potential candidate.

“I would support Iger over almost anyone in Los Angeles,” he said.

Under Iger’s leadership, Disney has been no stranger to controversy or politics.

The company’s heavy focus on leftist identity politics and divisive messaging aimed at children has alienated many families and led to the collapse of both Star Wars and Marvel as cultural powerhouses. While Khanna may see Iger as a solution to LA’s woes, Iger’s tenure at Disney raises serious questions about his priorities and judgment.

That said, Khanna’s criticism of Bass reflects broader concerns about her ability to lead the city through its current challenges. The wildfires have drawn significant public outrage, with many questioning why the city was so unprepared for a disaster of this magnitude.

Bob Iger Chris Pratt

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 27: (L-R) The Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and Chris Pratt attend the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 World Premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on April 27, 2023. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney)

Khanna’s fears may stem from growing public dissatisfaction with Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom. There could be anxiety within the Democratic party that the backlash could push left-leaning California toward the right.

While Iger’s track record as a corporate leader is mixed at best, his name recognition and business experience could appeal to Angelenos looking for an alternative to Bass while continuing to vote Democrat.

Hollywood Fire

Building burn as a major fire rips through Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills – YouTube, Fox 11 Los Angeles

However, whether Iger would consider running—and whether voters would welcome him—is an open question.

Khanna’s endorsement signals a deepening divide within California’s Democratic leadership and sets the stage for what could be a heated mayoral race. With the 2028 Olympics and the city’s recovery on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Do you think Bob Iger would run for LA mayor? Sound off in the comments and let us know! 

Author: Marvin Montanaro
Marvin Montanaro is the Editor-in-Chief of That Park Place and a seasoned entertainment journalist with nearly two decades of experience across multiple digital media outlets and print publications. He joined That Park Place in 2024, bringing with him a passion for theme parks, pop culture, and film commentary. Based in Orlando, Florida, Marvin regularly visits Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offering firsthand reporting and analysis from the parks. He’s also the creative force behind The M4 Empire YouTube channel, bringing a critical eye toward the world of pop culture. Montanaro’s insights are rooted in years of real-world reporting and editorial leadership. He can be reached via email at mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com SOCIAL MEDIA: X: http://x.com/marvinmontanaro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinmontanaro Facebook: https://facebook.com/marvinmontanaro YouTube: http://YouTube.com/TheM4Empire Email: mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com
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Bunny With A Keyboard

I was thinking maybe Los Angeles should think about finding someone who’s smart enough to build a reservoir, something that hasn’t happened since the 70s, with 90+% of the rainwater washing straight out into the ocean.

Ancient civilizations understood the value of water, like Mesopotamia being set up between the Tigris and the Euphrates, or the Nile for Egypt.

Sadly, the correlation between ignorance and wokeness is very easily demonstrated.

QuiteNuffSayer

Also bring back proper forestry management, you know, get rid of the dead stuff, proper fire breaks, that sort of thing.

Bunny With A Keyboard

They can’t even get fire hydrants that work. I don’t have unreasonable expectations of the woke. Anyone who believes Marxism can work has already proven to me that they can’t govern.

QuiteNuffSayer

I don’t think anyone has an unreasonable expectation of the woke, it just seems to them, ANY expectations are unreasonable. Always an excuse and blame, but certainly not themselves.

Bunny With A Keyboard

Two things and a deduction:

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

The woke cannot handle even basic levels of responsibility

It seems fair to deduce that they cannot be given even basic levels of power.

QuiteNuffSayer

Absolutely, they prove that equation every time they are given some sort of power. What baffles me is that it’s so obvious what is happening, but some don’t see it, they’ll trip over garbage (human and otherwise) to walk down the street or their kids are when walking to school, cannot have packages delivered to your house for fear of theft, stores have everything locked up behind glass, yet still vote to keep the same liberal in office. They had a recall a couple years ago in Cali, yet voted to keep Newsome in, crazy.

Bunny With A Keyboard

When I watch the Three Stooges, I don’t feel bad for them. I just laugh at their antics and know that they’ll never change.

QuiteNuffSayer

Ah, the Stooges “there’s a tarantula in my soup!”, yeah, there’s so much similarity between them and the Dems, their short movies are almost documentary in a way, lol.

Bunny With A Keyboard

There’s some differences, of course. The stooges were willing to work for money and didn’t think the world just owed it to them, for example.

QuiteNuffSayer

True, but then again that was the work ethic, world didn’t owe it to them. Today people are screaming because they have to go back to the office, a “world owes me everything” kind of mindset.

Bunny With A Keyboard

The Three Stooges are far smarter than the woke. They’re not dumb enough to believe communism could work.

Mr0303

He’s not a good fit. LA is already burned down, so he won’t be able to do what he did to Disney.

Enik

Yeah, another liberal, just what LA needs 🙄

Arc

Sooo Next is a meteorite strike on california? I mean i fear what that man can do to finish California

kiniku

They elect the same type of people over and over again. Lunacy.

CleatusDefeatus

Perfect! Just perfect. I couldn’t agree with him more. No more a deserving match than iger and LA. Just perfect.

Mad Lemming

Why am I not surprised Ro Khanna is supporting Iger for LA mayor? If you want someone to make 78 IQ Kamala Harris look smart, you look to him. The man’s notorious for having the most embarrassingly ignorant and out of touch takes on everything. Which is exactly why he’s represents LA; he’s a perfect match for those living there by choice.

drakiesan

Well, I guess salting the ground so nothing would grow there for years to come is a long-standing tradition…

KenReighard

What would he do? Buy San Diego?

Captain Dunbrody

This is what “falling upwards” looks at geopolitical scale.