Spencer Pratt Gains to 22% in Los Angeles Mayor Race as Karen Bass Faces Fire Backlash
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 24
Spencer Pratt Gains to 22% in Los Angeles Mayor Race as Karen Bass Faces Fire Backlash
6 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 24
A Los Angeles Times poll last week put Karen Bass at 30%, Spencer Pratt at 22% and Nithya Raman at 20%, making a Bass-Pratt runoff after the June 2 primary increasingly plausible.
Pratt’s rise has been driven by anger over Bass’ handling of the Palisades fires and by viral online campaigning, including AI-generated attack videos that have drawn more than 5 million views on X.
The former "Hills" star launched his campaign in January after his Pacific Palisades home burned down, turning his post-fire online following into a political base and making the wildfires the center of his message.
Bass still leads, but 56% of voters viewed her unfavorably in a March Los Angeles Times poll, while Democrats argue Pratt’s online enthusiasm may not translate into votes from Los Angeles residents.
With 16% of voters still undecided and no candidate near 50%, the all-party primary has become a test of whether internet virality and anti-incumbent anger can break Democrats’ long dominance in Los Angeles politics.
When voters feel ignored, does a celebrity's unconventional campaign matter more than traditional political experience?
As AI ads reshape elections, how can voters distinguish authentic grassroots frustration from manufactured sentiment?