Trump’s Praise of Spencer Pratt Could Doom Him in L.A. Mayor’s Race
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- President Trump expressed support for Spencer Pratt, a Republican candidate for Los Angeles mayor and former reality TV star, calling him a "big MAGA person," which could influence the mayoral race in the predominantly Democratic city.
- Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, elected in 2022, faces criticism for her absence during the January 2025 Los Angeles fires and is challenged by Pratt and liberal City Council member Nithya Raman in the June 2 primary.
- The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, backing Bass, spent $221,000 on ads that appeared to elevate Pratt among Republican voters, possibly aiming to split the opposition vote and avoid a runoff against another Democrat.
- If no candidate wins more than 50% in the primary, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff in the fall, regardless of party affiliation, making the consolidation of Republican votes around Pratt a strategic factor.