Spencer Pratt could upset Mayor Karen Bass's second-term bid with his surprise run in the primary rankings.
Early primary returns in the Los Angeles mayor's race showed incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leading, with reality TV star Spencer Pratt in second place and City Councilmember Nithya Raman in third.
The candidates are vying for one of two likely spots in a November runoff that will determine who leads a city of nearly 4 million residents.
It's still a close race as of Wednesday morning (2 a.m.) perLAist, Bass with 172,720 votes (34.79 per cent) and Pratt with 151,149 votes (30.44 per cent). Raman trails significantly with 110,848 votes (22.32 per cent).
Pratt addressed the early turnout on Tuesday evening while celebrating with supporters at his watch party at Don Antonio's on L.A.'s Westside. 'I'm going to prove to everyone this is for real, and I'm ready to run this city,' he told reporters.
Pratt decided to enter the race early last year, shortly after his home was razed in the fire that swept across the Pacific Palisades. He has since used that mishap to challenge Bass's bid for office, blaming her for what he considers the city's incompetent response to the fire and its recovery process.
The contest is unfolding against a backdrop of overlapping crises that the next mayor will be expected to confront, including homelessness, housing affordability, wildfire recovery and preparations for the 2028 Olympics.
The office carries a £10.4 billion ($14 billion) city budget and a prominent public platform, even as the Los Angeles City Council retains significant governing power.
On homelessness, Bass has highlighted a reported 6% decline in the city's unhoused population over two years through her Inside Safe initiative, while critics point to high costs and limited transitions into permanent housing.
Meanwhile, Pratt has promised to 'get rid of' unhoused people and has focused his message on enforcing laws against unhoused drug users.
Source: International Business Times UK
