Overview
- A UC Berkeley–Los Angeles Times poll released Thursday showed a three‑way race with Mayor Karen Bass at roughly 26 percent, Nithya Raman near 25 percent and Spencer Pratt at about 22 percent, all within the poll’s margin of error.
- Campaign filings and media reports show Pratt raised millions in a mid‑April to mid‑May surge, with roughly $2.7 million reported and payouts tied to vendors and outside groups in filings with the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.
- Pratt built his bid on anger over the January 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfires and on sharp criticism of city handling of homelessness and public safety, proposing mandatory treatment for addicts and boosts to fire resources.
- The campaign faces intensified scrutiny over credibility issues including questions about Pratt’s residency and living arrangements, unverified claims of private celebrity endorsements, outreach to gangs and a formal election complaint he filed against Bass.
- Because Los Angeles uses a nonpartisan top‑two primary, Pratt’s late surge and a large undecided voter bloc could push Bass into a November runoff and has prompted unions, Hollywood donors and national figures to deploy money and messaging that could shift turnout and results.