Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Heads to Run-off in Contest for California’s Largest City

Incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass has secured a spot in the November run-off election to determine the leadership of Los Angeles, the most populous city in California. As of late Tuesday night, with ballots still being tallied, Bass emerged as the top contender according to projections from CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. partner. However, the identity of her opponent remains undecided, as the runner-up could be either fellow Democrat and city council member Nithya Raman or Republican outsider and reality television personality Spencer Pratt.

The victor of this race will assume control of the nation’s second-largest metropolis, a position that requires navigating complex challenges such as homelessness and housing affordability, all while the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games. This contest was part of a broader slate of primaries held on Tuesday in California, Iowa, New Jersey, and New Mexico, all of which are poised to influence the national midterm elections in November. Concurrently, vote counting continued late Tuesday for the California gubernatorial primary, where the top two finishers will also proceed to the November general election.

California utilizes a "jungle primary" system, wherein the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes advance to the general election, irrespective of their political party. In Los Angeles, a candidate must secure 50% or more of the vote to win outright in the primary; otherwise, the top two proceed to a run-off. By early Wednesday morning, with 63% of the votes counted, Bass held 35% of the support, Pratt trailed with 30%, and Raman garnered 22%. Should Bass triumph in November, it will mark her second and final term as mayor.

Bass brings a extensive political and community organizing background to the role, having previously served six terms in the U.S. Congress representing segments of Los Angeles. During her congressional tenure, she chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and served on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In 2020, she was reportedly considered as a potential vice-presidential running mate for then-presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

Her mayoral term has been defined by her response to the city’s homelessness crisis, her handling of federal immigration raids, and the emergency management of the Palisades Fire. The blaze, which occurred in January 2025 as part of a series of destructive fires in Southern California, destroyed thousands of homes and resulted in 12 fatalities. The city’s response to the disaster has drawn significant criticism, becoming one of the most damaging fires in California’s history.

Among the fiercest critics of Bass’s performance is Spencer Pratt, a registered Republican who launched his mayoral bid on the anniversary of the wildfire that destroyed his own home. The 42-year-old, who resides in the affluent coastal neighborhood affected by the fire, has been vocal in his condemnation of Bass’s leadership. Despite holding a degree in political science, Pratt is a political novice who has never held public office. His campaign centers on the promise to repair a "broken" Los Angeles, characterizing the city as unsafe and unclean at times, and advocating for mandatory drug treatment programs to address homelessness.

Pratt first gained public recognition in 2007 when he joined the cast of The Hills, an MTV spin-off of Laguna Beach, as the boyfriend of Heidi Montag. Known for an often abrasive persona that fueled drama and rumors, Pratt and Montag eventually married and now have two children.

The entry of Nithya Raman into the mayoral race was considered unexpected. The 44-year-old urban planner announced her candidacy just before the filing deadline, shortly after she had publicly endorsed Bass. Raman has served on the Los Angeles City Council since 2020 but has not secured endorsements from any of her council peers. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, she has been compared to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Her campaign platform prioritizes the expansion of affordable housing and the reduction of homelessness.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 09:17:07 UTC