Los Angeles voters head into a crowded mayoral primary with Mayor Karen Bass defending her record against Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman, and recent polls point to a likely runoff rather than a clear winner. The race has become a test of management on homelessness, crime and disaster response, with each campaign crisscrossing the city in the final weekend before voters cast ballots.
Karen Bass spent the weekend at community stops, aiming to showcase familiarity and grassroots reach in neighborhoods that are feeling the strain of rising crime and persistent homelessness. She leaned on high-profile Democratic endorsements and tried to frame the choice as a continuation of progressive governance. Republicans and many undecided voters, however, are focused on tangible outcomes rather than celebrity backing.
Spencer Pratt has injected himself into the race as an outsider voice and a registered Republican challenging the city’s established order. Best known for his role on “The Hills,” Pratt moved his candidacy into the spotlight by criticizing Bass’s handling of last winter’s wildfires and the broader emergency response. That wildfire season left thousands of structures destroyed and sharpened questions about leadership and accountability.
Pratt has also made homelessness and public safety central themes, pointing to neighborhoods where residents complain about open drug use, encampments and repeat property crime. He has drawn attention and unconventional endorsements from fellow reality figures and entertainers, boosting name recognition at a time when many voters are frustrated and looking for change. Still, running as a Republican in a city that votes Democratic by wide margins presents a steep challenge.
Nithya Raman has worked to keep her place in the competitive mix by highlighting grassroots organizing and policy-focused messaging. She posted a short video urging supporters to show up and pointing to polling that keeps her competitive. “After millions of dollars of spending against us, we are still here and we are still competitive,” she said, a line meant to turn outside spending into a rallying cry for volunteers and donors alike.
Bass tried to undercut Pratt with a public moment meant to be homespun: serving tacos while wearing an apron that read “Common Sense and Carne Asada.” On a livestream she went further, saying, “You have a failed reality TV star who wants to be famous,” and later warning, “We know what it means if you put somebody who is a reality TV star in a seat of power.” Those lines land differently depending on whether you think celebrity politics are inherently disqualifying or view outsiders as a needed corrective.
Civic debate has tightened into familiar fault lines: incumbents defending incremental progress and challengers demanding sharper results on safety, clean streets and shelter capacity. Voters hear the promises and judge by what they see on their block: encampments, discarded syringes, or firefighters turning back from overwhelmed front lines. For many, the conversation is less about slogans and more about whether city hall can actually deliver.
Polling suggests that no candidate will clear 50 percent, meaning the top two will advance to a November runoff and the campaign will extend through the fall. That setup forces both Bass and her challengers to calculate how to consolidate support across diverse constituencies and how to pivot messaging for a broader electorate. If Pratt or Raman manage to break through, the runoff will be a direct referendum on the direction Los Angeles will take in the years ahead.
As Election Day nears, each campaign is running hard in neighborhoods across the city, from crowded community centers to quieter residential streets where the stakes feel personal. Voters are weighing leadership style, disaster preparedness and everyday safety, and the outcome will reflect whether Angelenos prefer continuity or a sharper change in approach. The primary is only the first act; whoever emerges will have to prove they can translate campaign energy into effective governance.
