The Harvard-Westlake ballot

There are countless ways to sort candidates on the Los Angeles ballot: Think the Democratic Socialists of America-backed leftist contenders, the police union-endorsed moderates, or those who’ve refused corporate money and the would-be pols getting millions in outside backing from companies like Airbnb.

But this cycle, there was another distinct category of candidates: those who attended one of L.A.’s toniest private schools.

There were no less than five Harvard-Westlake graduates on some Los Angeles ballots this cycle, a somewhat staggering number, though it should be no surprise that a highly academic school favored by L.A.’s elites (annual tuition: $54,900) churns out would-be leaders. Former Mayor Eric Garcetti, former Governor Gray Davis, and the developer and 2022 mayoral hopeful Rick Caruso are all alums. 

But for all the privilege conferred on graduates of this secondary school — including deep-pocketed, well-connected social networks and, for some, millions in family funding — election victory is far from guaranteed. Here’s a look at the Harvard-Westlake caucus and how they fared in the primary.