L.A. Mayor Karen Bass will face Spencer Pratt or Nithya Raman in runoff
Key Points:
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass secured a spot in the Nov. 3 runoff, with Spencer Pratt currently in second place and City Councilmember Nithya Raman in third, according to partial election returns. The final second-place candidate may change as mail-in ballots are still being counted.
- Bass highlighted her administration's efforts in reducing homelessness, fast-tracking affordable housing, and lowering the homicide rate during her campaign, while Pratt focused on crime and homelessness enforcement, and Raman criticized Bass for costly police raises and insufficient housing production.
- The mayoral race has drawn national attention due to Pratt's celebrity status and media presence, with Pratt portraying himself as a conservative challenger and Raman positioning herself as a democratic socialist offering a generational alternative to Bass.
- Polls indicate widespread voter dissatisfaction with the city's direction, with 63% of likely voters feeling Los Angeles is off track; however, surveys also suggest that both Bass and Raman would defeat Pratt by significant margins in a runoff.
- The race has been marked by intense rivalry between Pratt and Raman, accusations of alliances, and involvement from national figures like former President Trump, who expressed support for Pratt despite the city's predominantly Democratic electorate.