The 22-year-old daughter of a prominent Los Angeles mayoral candidate has died, casting a shadow over the city's upcoming political contest. Emily Beutner, the youngest child of Democrat Austin Beutner, passed away at a hospital in LA on January 6, according to records from the LA County Medical Examiner.
Cause of Death Listed as Deferred
The official cause of Emily Beutner's death has been listed as 'deferred' by the medical examiner's office. This status indicates that further investigation is required before a definitive cause can be determined and publicly released.
A Father's Unimaginable Grief
Austin Beutner, who previously served as the first deputy mayor of Los Angeles and is now challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the June 2026 election, shared his profound sorrow. 'My family has experienced the unimaginable loss of our beloved daughter,' Beutner told the Daily Mail. 'We ask for privacy and your prayers at this time.'
Emily Beutner was a student at Loyola Marymount University and was one of four children in the Beutner family. Her father's most recent public campaign event was held on January 5 in Pacific Palisades, just one day before her tragic death.
Condolences from Political Opponent
Mayor Karen Bass, who herself experienced the loss of a daughter and son-in-law in a 2006 car crash, publicly offered her sympathies. Taking to social media, Bass stated, 'I am profoundly saddened by the news of the tragic passing of Austin Beutner’s daughter. There is no way to describe the depth of pain experienced by parents who have lost a child.'
She continued, 'My heart is broken for the Beutner family, and I offer Austin, his wife Virginia, and their entire family my deepest condolences. I will hold them close in my heart, and I am ready to assist the family with whatever they might need.'
Potential Impact on Mayoral Campaign
It remains unclear how this personal tragedy might affect Austin Beutner's campaign to unseat Mayor Bass. The election is scheduled for June 2026, with Bass having served since December 2022 following her victory in the previous mayoral race.
Beutner's campaign had recently focused on criticising Bass's handling of a major disaster, referencing a fire that claimed 31 lives and destroyed 13,000 homes, including property belonging to Beutner's mother-in-law. The candidate's own home suffered serious damage in the incident, forcing his family to relocate temporarily.
Beutner's Extensive Public Service Background
Before entering local politics, Austin Beutner built a substantial career in public service and media:
- Served at the US State Department during the Bill Clinton administration
- Acted as CEO and publisher of both the Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune
- Held the position of first deputy mayor of Los Angeles under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa from 2010 to 2013
- Served as superintendent for the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2018 to 2021
The political community now watches to see how this devastating personal loss will influence both the Beutner family's private grieving process and the public dynamics of the Los Angeles mayoral race.
