Five days after the Los Angeles mayoral primary, results are still being tallied and incumbent Democrat Karen Bass has advanced to the November runoff. However, who she will face remains an open question as two candidates — Republican reality TV star Spencer Pratt and Democratic socialist City Councilwoman Nithya Raman — remain in a tight contest for second place.
Bass captured roughly one-third of the vote in the nonpartisan primary, falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. The delay in final results stems from California's progressive vote count, which historically takes longer to process than ballots cast on Election Day.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and Bass critics point to several factors they say contributed to her vulnerability. Despite a reported 18% drop in homelessness under her administration, LA still has more than 40,000 unhoused residents — the most of any U.S. city. Housing costs remain extremely high, infrastructure repairs have been delayed due to budget constraints, and some voters expressed frustration with Bass's response to January's devastating Palisades Fire, during which she was on a diplomatic trip to Ghana.
Councilwoman Nithya Raman has positioned herself as the candidate offering substantive solutions. According to her campaign platform, Raman advocates for expanding affordable housing development and addressing root causes of homelessness rather than enforcement-focused approaches. Political strategists quoted in LAist coverage noted that voters are increasingly frustrated with Democratic coalitions that have governed major cities for decades.
"Some say she should have stayed in the city amid warnings of severe fire danger," NPR correspondent Frank Stoltze reported, summarizing voter discontent.
What the Right Is Saying
Spencer Pratt, whose house burned in the Palisades Fire, has channeled personal loss into political messaging. The Republican reality TV personality has argued that homelessness stems primarily from drug addiction and has called for mandatory rehabilitation programs — a position he says requires fewer complex policy solutions than affordable housing expansion.
Pratt's campaign gained significant traction through social media. One widely viewed AI-generated video depicted Pratt as Batman and Bass as the Joker presiding over French royalty while residents pleaded for homeless removal from schools and parks. The video also featured Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, reflecting Pratt's broader critique of Democratic leadership.
"All we need to do is force drug addicts into rehabilitation," Pratt has said, according to Stoltze's reporting. Experts cited in coverage note that housing affordability — not addiction alone — remains the primary driver of homelessness in Los Angeles.
What the Numbers Show
According to current vote tallies reported by LAist and NPR: Bass received approximately 33% of the vote, placing first but far below a majority threshold. Pratt and Raman remain separated by a narrow margin as counting continues. The Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of homes in January. California's progressive ballot-counting process means final results may not be certified for days. Los Angeles has more than 40,000 unhoused individuals — the highest count of any U.S. city.
The Bottom Line
The outcome will determine whether Bass faces a Republican reality TV personality or a progressive councilwoman in November's general election. Either challenger would represent a significantly different approach to the city's most pressing issues: homelessness, housing costs, and infrastructure. Vote certification is expected within the week. Regardless of who advances, Bass enters the general election as a vulnerable incumbent — a rare position for a major city mayor seeking reelection.