Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advanced to the general election scheduled for November, as reported by the Associated Press. She is competing for a second term against Democratic City Council member Nithya Raman and Republican Spencer Pratt, known for his role on the reality television series The Hills.
As of Wednesday morning, with 63% of the votes counted, Bass leads with 34.8% (172,720 votes), followed by Pratt at 30.4% (151,149 votes), and Raman at 22.3% (110,848 votes). No winner has been declared in the primary election yet.
Bass, who was first elected mayor in 2022, faced criticism for her decision to attend the inauguration of Ghana’s President John Mahama during the Southern California wildfires in January 2025, which led to scrutiny regarding her leadership during the crisis.
Pratt, whose home was destroyed in the wildfires, has held Bass accountable for her handling of the situation, contributing to his rising popularity in the race. Despite this, it remains uncertain if Pratt or Raman will advance to the November general election, as 37% of the votes are still to be counted.
Under California's jungle primary system, the top two candidates will advance to the runoff if no candidate secures a majority. A recent poll indicated Bass had 26% support among likely voters, compared to 25% for Raman and 22% for Pratt.
California's election results often take longer to finalize due to the processing of millions of ballots, particularly with the state's extensive use of mail-in voting, which requires additional verification steps.
Pratt's campaign has focused on issues such as homelessness and crime, utilizing a digital strategy that includes viral content. However, he has faced questions regarding his qualifications for office, including his lack of governing experience and vague policy proposals.
Bass, despite her extensive political background, has faced criticism regarding her handling of the Palisades fire and her support for delaying a planned minimum wage increase for hospitality workers until after the 2028 Olympics. She has concentrated her criticism on Raman, who has described her candidacy as necessary due to the city's challenges.
Raman has expressed concerns about public safety and the city's response to emergencies, while also facing backlash for suggesting that Bass and Pratt were collaborating against her in the primary race. Pratt refuted this claim, emphasizing his opposition to Bass and his preference to run against Raman instead.
