LA mayor race flips as socialist beats reality TV star Pratt [View all]

Last edited Mon Jun 8, 2026, 07:22 AM - Edit history (2)

Source: Bloomberg via Msn

(Bloomberg) -- Democratic incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and Democratic City Councilmember Nithya Raman will advance to the runoff in November for Los Angeles mayor, Decision Desk HQ projects. Bass continued to lead the race with 34.68% of the vote, followed by Raman with 27.12% and reality star Spencer Pratt, a Republican, with 26.69%, according to Los Angeles County data.

"We look forward to winning a contest against an opponent who allows encampments near schools and fights against hiring more cops, yet is MIA on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades LA," Alex Stack, a Bass campaign spokesperson, said in a statement.

Raman, who initially trailed Pratt by 8 percentage points, closed the gap as mail-in ballots were counted over the weekend, a protracted process in California that can drag on for weeks after polls close. "We are encouraged by the latest vote count and remain grateful to the thousands of Angelenos who have powered this campaign," Raman said in a statement on Sunday.

Pre-election surveys showed the majority of LA voters had unfavorable opinions of Bass, who was elected in 2022 pledging to reduce homelessness and promote housing affordability. During her tenure, the city has battled devastating wildfires while also contending with Hollywood job losses, immigration raids under President Donald Trump and pervasive homeless encampments on streets and sidewalks. Pratt, best known as a reality TV villain on shows such as The Hills, grabbed headlines with a strong debate performance in April and a social media presence that included viral videos depicting him as a Batman-like character battling the Democratic establishment in Los Angeles and California.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/la-mayor-race-flips-as-socialist-beats-reality-tv-star-pratt/ar-AA253R4F

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