Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has been eliminated from the race, according to the latest projections. This outcome represents a setback for Donald Trump, who had publicly supported Pratt’s candidacy.
Bass Secures Spot in Run-off
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, has already secured her position in the November run-off election. She won the open primary held on June 2. Initially, Pratt, 42, held a lead over leftist city council member Nithya Raman in the contest for second place.
However, as vote counting progressed, Raman steadily closed the gap. Current forecasts indicate Raman has garnered 28.5 percent of the vote, surpassing the Republican Pratt’s 25.8 percent. This development effectively ends the former reality television star’s bid for the mayoralty and sets up a run-off between two Democratic candidates.
Pratt’s Reaction and the Path Forward
In the days leading up to the projections, Pratt had expressed optimism, urging his supporters on Monday to remain hopeful. “Folks, we’re dealing with a fraction of a percentage point difference, there’s still hundreds of thousands of votes outstanding, and LA officials have given us the next 3 weeks to count! Let’s git-r-dun!” he stated.
Candidates and Key Issues
Mayor Bass, 72, is seeking a second term. She is the first Black woman to lead the city and faced significant challenges in 2025, including devastating wildfires in January and protests against ICE raids during the summer. Despite these hurdles, she maintains strong support from prominent California Democrats such as Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi.
Nithya Raman, 44, entered the race as a late contender, having joined the city council in 2020. Her campaign has drawn comparisons to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose rise was fueled by a successful grassroots movement. Raman’s platform focuses on expanding affordable housing, reducing homelessness, and revitalizing the Hollywood job market. Like Pratt, she has voiced criticism of Bass’s response to last year’s wildfires.
Governor’s Race and Election Integrity Claims
In a parallel election for California governor, the final two contenders have yet to be definitively determined. The race is between Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer, who will face off against either Xavier Becerra. Despite the ongoing tabulation, Trump has claimed on Truth Social that Hilton has advanced, a day after alleging widespread election irregularities and claiming his preferred candidates are being unfairly treated, without providing evidence.
Data analyst Harry Enten has publicly dismissed these claims of a rigged election, labeling the argument as “The dumbest conspiracy theory I’ve ever heard.”
Analysis of Strategic Considerations
Enten also suggested that the Democratic establishment and Karen Bass might have preferred facing Spencer Pratt in the run-off, viewing him as a less formidable opponent compared to Nithya Raman.
