Spencer Pratt Poised for Runoff in Los Angeles Mayoral Race

Reality TV personality Spencer Pratt is progressing in Los Angeles’ mayoral race. He aims to unseat the current mayor, Karen Bass, in November. Mayor Bass, who has been leading since 2022, faces a runoff after not achieving a majority vote in the primary election. With no candidate reaching the 50% mark, the top two candidates will contest in November’s runoff.

This upcoming runoff poses a challenge for Bass. She received support from prominent figures like Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Pratt, known from MTV’s “The Hills,” was trailing Bass as of Wednesday morning.

“Obviously, God wanted five more months of me exposing the failures of our mayor,” said Spencer Pratt as results came in.

Pratt has consistently criticized Bass on longstanding city issues such as fire recovery, homelessness, and crime. He blames Bass for wildfires impacting over 18,000 structures, including his home. Pratt’s progress seems to have sidelined Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, a former ally of Bass. Raman, associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, aimed to guide the city towards a progressive path but has not conceded yet.

As a Republican, Pratt will confront challenges in a city predominantly Democratic. Only less than 20% of voters align with the GOP, though Los Angeles’ mayoral race remains nonpartisan.

Representative Darrell Issa commented on Pratt’s appeal, attributing it to dissatisfaction with Bass’ leadership among traditional Democrat voters. He mentioned voters’ frustration over crime and mismanagement under Bass.

Conversely, Bass emphasizes her leadership has prompted positive change. Her website claims achievements in reducing homelessness, increasing housing development, and recruiting more police officers.