Karen Bass Leads Los Angeles Primary With 36.54% as Spencer Pratt Takes 30.12%
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Daily News · Jun 2
Karen Bass Leads Los Angeles Primary With 36.54% as Spencer Pratt Takes 30.12%
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Daily News · Jun 2
Early Los Angeles mayoral returns put Bass at 36.54%, ahead of Pratt at 30.12% and Councilmember Nithya Raman at 20.18%, with Adam Miller at 4.40%.
Those totals largely reflect vote-by-mail ballots processed before Election Day and early vote-center ballots, leaving the race unsettled as more votes are counted.
No candidate has crossed the 50% threshold needed to win outright, so the top two finishers are on track to advance to a Nov. 3 runoff.
Bass ran on stability and progress on homelessness, crime, housing and wildfire recovery, while Pratt campaigned as an outsider critic focused on policing, mandatory treatment and city accountability.
The winner will inherit budget strain, homelessness and public-safety pressures, Palisades fire recovery and preparations for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.
Can a celebrity outsider who raised millions overcome LA's political establishment to win the mayor's office in a runoff election?
The 2025 fires hit some communities harder. How will the next mayor ensure equitable protection from future climate disasters?
With 'Inside Safe' costing $300M while 40% return to the streets, what is the real path to ending LA's homelessness crisis?
Los Angeles Mayoral Primary 2026: Runoff Likely as Karen Bass Faces Unprecedented Challenge from Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman
Overview
Preliminary results from the Los Angeles mayoral primary show that a runoff election is very likely, as Mayor Karen Bass, who is seeking a second term, has not secured an outright majority of the vote. If this happens, she would be the first incumbent since 2005 to advance to a runoff. Bass has faced strong public frustration over her handling of wildfires, homelessness, and the high cost of living, making the race especially competitive. The contest for the second runoff spot is intense, mainly between Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt, reflecting deep voter dissatisfaction and shifting political dynamics in the city.