Billionaire developer Rick Caruso will not run for mayor of Los Angeles, his spokesperson said Thursday, clarifying his plans just days before the filing deadline.

The decision marks a swift turnaround from comments a day earlier, when Caruso said he was weighing whether to reenter the race following reporting on the Palisades fire response. It comes amid a volatile stretch in the mayoral contest, as scrutiny of Mayor Karen Bass’ handling of the fire coincides with a series of last-stage moves and announcements just ahead of the filing deadline on Saturday.

“Rick is incredibly moved by the outpouring of support but reached an earlier decision in a thoughtful process and it stands,” a spokesperson for Caruso said in an emailed statement Thursday. “He will not be a candidate for mayor.”

Caruso, who lost to Bass in 2022, had signaled Wednesday he was reconsidering another bid following a Los Angeles Times report alleged that the mayor directed changes to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s after-action report on the Palisades fire in ways that downplayed failure by the city and the department — an allegation that Bass has denied. His decision closes the door on a rewatch that many observers. had been watching closely.

The announcement follows a turbulent stretch in the race: former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner dropped out Thursday following the death of his daughter, while tech executive and homeless nonprofit co-founder Adam Miller moved to enter. The race already included housing advocate Rae Huang and reality television personality Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades fire, among a growing and crowded field of candidates.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates

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