LOS ANGELES (CNS) — A poll released Friday found that Rep. Karen Bass has widened her lead over billionaire developer Rick Caruso in the Los Angeles mayoral race.

The poll, conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies for the Los Angeles Times from Aug. 9 to 15 of 1,746 registered voters in Los Angeles, found that 43% of voters favored Bass compared to 31% of voters for Caruso.

The 12-point margin is an increase over the 7 percentage points that Bass beat Caruso by during the June primary.

Nearly half of those surveyed had a favorable opinion of Bass, compared to 22% unfavorable, while 29% had no opinion. That also fared better than Caruso. Just 35% of respondents found him favorable, while 40% found him unfavorable and 24% had no opinion.

Three-quarters of respondents said it was important for the next mayor to have experience in public office, which favors Bass, who has served in Congress in 2011.

Meanwhile, 77% of respondents wanted the next mayor to be tough on crime, which has been a staple of Caruso’s campaign.

The new poll appears to be consistent with a poll released last week by the pro-Bass group Communities United for Karen Bass, which found an 11- point lead for Bass over Caruso. In that poll, conducted between July 28 and Aug. 7 of 1,062 registered voters, respondents favored Caruso on issues concerning crime and homelessness.