Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is seeking a second term facing a crowded and unconventional field, including a reality television personality who blames her for the destruction caused by last year's Palisades Fire — the most destructive in the city's history. The first Black woman to hold the post acknowledged she hasn't always gotten it right but argued progress on homicides and street homelessness justify another four years in a city of nearly 4 million that will host the 2028 Olympics.
Bass was in Ghana as part of a presidential delegation when the Palisades Fire erupted in January, forcing her to cut short her trip. The fire destroyed thousands of homes, among them belonging to Spencer Pratt, who rose to fame alongside his wife Heidi Montag on the reality show "The Hills." Pratt is now running as a Republican and has received tacit approval from President Donald Trump — a notable position in a city where less than 15% of voters are registered Republican. The race will be decided in Tuesday's primary, with the top two candidates advancing to a November general election if no one receives a majority.
What the Left Is Saying
Bass has assembled support from much of the Democratic establishment, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with the city's powerful labor unions. Progressive city council member Nithya Raman, who made a last-minute decision to challenge her one-time ally Bass, represents an alternative path for Democrats concerned about housing construction timelines and basic city services.
Democratic strategist Garry South said he expects Bass to advance on Tuesday alongside Pratt, questioning whether Pratt's online video barrage was reaching actual voters. "Most voters are over 50, pure and simple. You are not going to grab that demographic by posting clever stuff on YouTube and Instagram," South told ABC News.
Raman has promised to speed up housing construction, bring back entertainment industry jobs, and improve street paving and other basic services. In a statement Thursday, she said residents are "hungry for a different future for this city — one that is affordable, functional, creative and safe."
Among Bass's supporters in a Mid-City neighborhood was Diane Mitchell Henry, a registered Democrat and event planner who said the mayor's government experience made her trustworthy. "She knows the heartbeat of Los Angeles," Henry said.
What the Right Is Saying
Pratt has emerged as an unlikely contender through AI-generated campaign videos where he takes on a superhero persona to battle street criminals and Democratic politicians, created by filmmaker Charles Curran and shared across Pratt's social media platforms. Trump has offered Pratt tacit approval — not an outright endorsement but a public acknowledgment that carries weight with Republican voters.
Pratt has blamed Bass personally for the destruction from the Palisades Fire. "We are not going to have this level of failure in our city for four more years," he told CNBC on Thursday, describing the city as "not safe" and criticizing spending on services for people experiencing homelessness.
Bass dismissed Pratt's candidacy, calling him a political dilettante focused on entertainment rather than governance. She questioned whether his Republican affiliation and Trump's backing would resonate in Los Angeles. "This is Los Angeles. This is not a MAGA city," Bass said during a campaign stop.
What the Numbers Show
A University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by The Los Angeles Times found no candidate with a statistically significant edge. The survey of 1,351 likely voters conducted between May 19 and May 24 showed Bass tightly clustered with Raman and Pratt, with other candidates trailing in the crowded field of 14 names on the ballot.
Trump received just 32% of the vote in Los Angeles County during the 2024 presidential election. A Republican hasn't been elected mayor of Los Angeles since 1997. Homicides have dipped under Bass's leadership, and street homelessness has decreased, though critics point to ongoing concerns about slow wildfire rebuilding timelines.
The Bottom Line
Tuesday's primary will determine whether Bass advances to a November runoff or faces an unexpectedly difficult path to reelection against candidates running from different ideological positions. The Palisades Fire fallout remains a central issue in the race, with Pratt capitalizing on his status as a fire victim while Bass points to broader progress on public safety and homelessness that her administration has achieved.
Unless a candidate receives a majority of votes Tuesday, the top two finishers will face each other in November. Democratic strategist Garry South expects this outcome given the fragmented field, suggesting voters should watch whether Pratt's unconventional campaign can translate social media reach into actual ballots cast.