As vote counting continues from the June 2 primary election, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has secured her place in the November runoff, but the contest for the second spot remains tight between Republican-leaning reality TV personality Spencer Pratt and progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman.
With approximately 78% of ballots counted as of Friday evening, Bass holds a commanding lead at 34.8% with 235,180 votes. Pratt sits in second with 27.3% (184,596 votes), while Raman trails closely at 26.2% (177,102 votes). Hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots remain to be tabulated, and Raman has steadily narrowed the gap in recent updates, leaving the final outcome for the runoff challenger uncertain.
No candidate reached the 51% threshold required to avoid a runoff, setting up what could be a historic November matchup. No Republican has won the Los Angeles mayoral race in more than three decades, making Pratt’s performance noteworthy even if he ultimately falls short of advancing. His early strength reflects widespread dissatisfaction among Angelenos with the direction of the city after years of Democratic leadership.
Business leaders and voters point to persistent challenges including crime, homelessness, addiction, recovery from recent wildfires, and a difficult business climate as key drivers of discontent. John Putnam, president of Putnam Brands & Putnam Accessory Group and a former Santa Monica city council candidate, attributed Pratt’s surge to residents’ desire for change.
“I think a lot of people are concerned about what’s happening, they really don’t know how to fix this, and I think the crime, the homelessness, the addiction, all the above behaviors of what’s happened in our city,” Putnam told Fox News Digital. He added that politicians are increasingly seen as responsible, and Pratt’s straightforward style is resonating: “He’s pretty basic with his delivery of his issues… Even if you don’t want to vote for him, you’re listening.”
Pratt, a former star of MTV’s “The Hills,” entered the race as a political outsider emphasizing practical solutions and accountability. His campaign has highlighted issues like public safety and economic revitalization, tapping into frustration with the status quo in a city long dominated by one-party rule.
The primary was not without controversy. Pratt filed a formal complaint against Bass, accusing her of violating California election laws by filming a campaign video near a ballot drop box. Under state law, electioneering within 100 feet of a ballot box is prohibited.
“Karen Bass just violated election law here,” Pratt posted on X. “She is so accustomed to breaking the law with no accountability, she even filmed herself doing it… These clear violations show a reckless disregard for the rule of law and our democratic process.” He described it as a “rules for thee, but not for me” attitude and vowed to pursue accountability.
A spokesperson for Bass dismissed the complaint as baseless and questioned the motivations behind it. The matter is under review by election officials.
As final results are certified in the coming weeks, the race underscores deep divisions in Los Angeles. Bass will face either Pratt or Raman in November, offering voters a clear choice between continued progressive governance and an outsider challenge focused on reversing the city’s perceived decline. With late ballots historically favoring Democrats, the battle for second place could extend for days.
