Karen Bass Seeks Re-Election With 30% Polling Lead as Trump Backs Spencer Pratt
Updated
Updated · Deadline · May 21
Karen Bass Seeks Re-Election With 30% Polling Lead as Trump Backs Spencer Pratt
9 articles · Updated · Deadline · May 21
Bass said Trump’s endorsement of Spencer Pratt is more likely to hurt than help in heavily Democratic Los Angeles, where she is polling around 30% and Pratt in the mid-teens.
In the interview, Bass cast herself as a pragmatic incumbent who can work with Trump when needed, saying she went to Washington to seek $8 billion for Palisades infrastructure rebuilding while still opposing ICE raids in the city.
On Hollywood jobs, Bass said she cannot block the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery tie-up but has cut filming red tape, lowered costs at key locations and defended appointing Steven Kang as film czar at the industry’s request.
She also pointed to reduced street homelessness, crime at 1960 levels, 42,000 housing units fast-tracked and more than 400 homes under construction after the fires, while acknowledging residents often do not feel those gains.
Looking ahead, Bass said fire-prevention changes are already underway and argued the 2028 Olympics can still benefit neighborhoods, even though Los Angeles would bear part of any LA28 deficit.
As Hollywood's future hangs in the balance, can the next mayor's plan keep film production from leaving Los Angeles?
Will LA's billion-dollar bet on the Olympics and World Cup be a historic win or a costly mistake for taxpayers?
With crises in housing and public safety, does Los Angeles need steady leadership or a disruptive outsider at city hall?
Celebrity Surge and Trump’s Backing: How Spencer Pratt’s Candidacy Is Shaping the 2026 LA Mayoral Election
Overview
On May 20, 2026, President Donald Trump officially endorsed Spencer Pratt for Los Angeles mayor, following earlier reports that he was considering backing the reality TV star. Trump’s support, rooted in his preference for celebrity candidates who attract media attention, quickly made headlines. Despite this, Pratt has worked to present himself as a non-partisan candidate representing all Angelenos, emphasizing his outsider status and lack of traditional campaign structure. This high-profile endorsement sparked immediate reactions from rivals and added new complexity to the race, highlighting the intersection of national influence and local politics in Los Angeles.