Reality TV star Spencer Pratt is making headway in the Los Angeles mayoral race, aiming to challenge incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November. Bass, who took office in 2022, struggled during a primary election that saw no candidate securing a majority. This outcome leads to a runoff election in November, where only the top two finishers will compete.
The situation poses a challenge for Bass, who previously received endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Pratt gained attention for his role on MTV’s “The Hills” and is currently ranked second in the primary results.
“Obviously, God wanted five more months of me exposing the failures of our mayor,” Pratt commented as the preliminary results came in.
Pratt has publicly criticized Bass for issues that affect the city, such as fire recovery efforts, homelessness, and crime. He blames her for wildfires destroying 18,000 structures, including his own home.
With Pratt gaining momentum, City Council member Nithya Raman, a former ally of Bass, seems to be trailing significantly. Raman is seen as promoting a more progressive direction for the city, yet has not conceded despite falling behind in votes.
Pratt, a Republican, faces challenges in a predominantly Democratic city, where fewer than 20% of voters identify as GOP. Despite the mayoral race being officially nonpartisan, the political leanings of the electorate remain influential.
Rep. Darrell Issa highlighted Pratt’s resonance with voters frustrated by Bass’ performance. “He’s catching fire among ardent historic Democrat voters because Karen Bass has been so ineffective,” Issa stated. He notes Bass frequently discusses maintaining her current policies without significant change.
Bass, however, defends her administration, asserting positive changes in Los Angeles. According to her campaign website, homelessness has decreased, more housing is being constructed, and new LAPD officers are joining the force.
Nithya Raman appears set for a third-place finish, eliminating her from the runoff.