Karen Bass survives primary as Spencer Pratt charges into runoff election

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has secured her spot in a November runoff election, navigating a challenging first term marked by the city's most destructive wildfire and an ongoing battle against widespread homelessness. She now faces a fight to retain City Hall against a diverse field of challengers.

Addressing her supporters, Bass expressed confidence in her path forward. "I appreciate you for standing with me when others doubted me, because you know who I am," she stated. "I have devoted my entire life to serving the city that I love, where I was born, and I’m going to continue to do that all the way to victory in November."

While Bass's advancement is confirmed, the Associated Press has yet to declare a second candidate for the runoff. California's electoral process often sees significant vote updates post-Election Day, with late-arriving mail and drop-off ballots sometimes altering initial outcomes.

Early returns indicate Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former reality television star from "The Hills," is positioned to join Bass in the runoff. Pratt has been a vocal critic of the incumbent, accusing Mayor Bass of failing to control the devastating wildfire and making insufficient progress on the city's homelessness crisis.

Speaking to reporters amidst his supporters, Pratt signaled his readiness for a direct contest with Bass, a former member of Congress and the first Black woman to hold the mayoral office.

"This is not a candidate that I’m too concerned about," he asserted. He articulated his motivation, stating, "I got in this because as a citizen, I felt like my city failed — myself, my neighbors, my family.

Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former star of the reality television show “The Hills,” was second in early returns (AP)

Mayor Bass has allowed the city to be covered in potholes. We don’t have sidewalks. We don’t have lights." Pratt concluded, "I’m an Angeleno who said ‘Enough is enough.’"

Despite acknowledging a "bumpy" tenure, Mayor Bass has highlighted reductions in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate as evidence of her administration's achievements in the nation’s second-most-populous city.

Trailing Bass and Pratt was Nithya Raman, a progressive city council member and former ally of the mayor, who gained office with backing from the Democratic Socialists of America. A Democrat, Raman's campaign centered on pledges to reduce inequality, revitalize the struggling entertainment industry, and increase housing availability.

Bass is struggling to overcome lingering fallout from the Palisades Fire, the most destructive in Los Angeles history (Getty)

Political observers had anticipated a November runoff given the crowded ballot, which featured 14 candidates, including tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and community activist Rae Huang.

Pratt's candidacy garnered national attention, serving as a gauge of discontent with liberal urban governance, partly fueled by viral videos his supporters created using artificial intelligence.

Mayor Bass consolidated support from much of the Democratic establishment, including Kamala Harris, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Nancy Pelosi, as well as powerful labor unions in the city.

Bass has been endorsed by Democratic heavyweights including Gov. Gavin Newsom (Getty)

Candidates made last-minute appeals to voters in an election that appeared headed for low turnout. Bass campaigned in the heavily Hispanic Boyle Heights neighborhood, referencing federal immigration raids where she claimed Pratt and Raman were "nowhere to be found."

Pratt, in online posts before polls closed, declared the race a two-person contest between himself and Bass, suggesting votes for Raman or Miller would be wasted. "At this point, it’s me and Karen," he stated.

Voter Jose Rivera expressed his support for Bass, believing she deserves a second term to fulfill her promises: "She’s done a pretty good job in my opinion overall." Conversely, Leo Blain was drawn to Raman’s progressive platform, stating outside his polling place, "I think she has a really good understanding about how the city of LA works and would be a really effective mayor."

The mayoral race unfolds amid significant uncertainty for Los Angeles. The mayor continues to address the aftermath of her absence during the most destructive wildfire in the city’s history, which erupted in a wealthy seaside neighborhood in January 2025.

Bass was on a presidential delegation trip to Ghana at the time. Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire that claimed 12 lives, contends the recovery efforts are too slow.

While statistics suggest progress on homelessness, makeshift encampments and rows of rusting RVs remain a common sight across the city.

Residents frequently voice complaints about the rising cost of living, including rent, taxes, and groceries, as well as pervasive issues with dirty, pocked streets and sidewalks.

Hollywood jobs have been relocating to more affordable filming locations for years, further impacting the city's economy.

Immigration raids during the Trump administration also created unrest. The once-booming region is experiencing population decline, with Los Angeles County losing approximately 54,000 residents from July 2024 to July 2025, marking the largest numeric population drop nationwide, according to federal data.

A woman holds a sign with a picture of Alex Pretti, who was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis, in a protest against immigration in an "ICE Out of Everywhere" National Day of Action follow-up in front of the City Hall in downtown Los Angeles (AFP/Getty)

Despite a decrease in crime statistics, public safety remains a concern. Southern California is set to host World Cup games in June, and Los Angeles is preparing for the 2028 Olympics.

While the federal government leads Olympic security, there are already worries that the Los Angeles Police Department may lack adequate funding or personnel to fulfill its responsibilities.

Bass acknowledges past missteps but maintains that a reduction in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate demonstrate her administration's effectiveness. "I'll keep fighting for LA," she affirmed.

Pratt, conversely, has centered his campaign on tackling homelessness and bolstering police ranks, advocating for an outsider to disrupt City Hall. Tapping into voter frustration, he identifies as "an Angeleno who’s had enough" and has controversially railed against "homeless drug zombies" on the streets.

Pratt received a public nod of approval, though not a formal endorsement, from President Donald Trump, who recently remarked, "I heard he’s a big MAGA person." This comment could prove problematic for Pratt in a city where President Trump is largely unpopular beyond his conservative base, and Republicans constitute less than 15% of registered voters.