Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman have secured spots in the November general election following Tuesday's mayoral primary, setting up a runoff between the incumbent and her progressive challenger. Spencer Pratt, the reality television personality who mounted a high-profile outsider campaign, failed to advance after Raman surged past him in what had been a closely contested race for the second slot.
Bass, who has served as mayor since 2022, faced significant headwinds heading into the primary, including criticism over her administration's response to the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Despite the challenges, she finished as the top vote-getter in the primary, earning her place in the fall runoff. Raman, a progressive who represents the Fourth Council District, consolidated enough support to edge out Pratt and claim the second runoff position.
The outcome sets the stage for a November contest that will likely center on the city's ongoing homelessness crisis, wildfire recovery and preparedness, public safety, and housing affordability. Bass and Raman represent distinct approaches to these issues, and the general election campaign is expected to draw significant attention and spending given Los Angeles's status as the nation's second-largest city.
Pratt's campaign had attracted national media coverage due to his celebrity status and unconventional messaging, but he was ultimately unable to translate that attention into enough votes to advance. The Daily Wire noted Raman's late surge as a key factor in Pratt's elimination, describing her as a socialist rival whose momentum proved decisive in the final count.
Left-Leaning Emphasis
- NBC News highlighted the drama of the tight, unresolved race between Raman and Pratt, emphasizing Raman's late surge as a significant political development.
- Left-leaning coverage framed Raman's advancement as a victory for progressive council politics and grassroots organizing in Los Angeles.
Right-Leaning Emphasis
- Breitbart and Daily Wire both noted the primary results with an emphasis on labeling Raman as a socialist, framing her advancement as a concern for the city's direction.
- The Daily Wire characterized Pratt's loss specifically in terms of a 'socialist rival' surging, casting the outcome in ideological terms unfavorable to the progressive candidate.
- Right-leaning outlets gave notable coverage to Pratt's campaign, reflecting broader interest in outsider and celebrity challenges to establishment Democratic figures.