Los Angeles Mayoral Race Advances to Runoff
Incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass has secured a spot in the November runoff election to determine the leadership of Los Angeles, California's largest city.
As votes continued to be tallied late Tuesday night, Bass was projected by CBS News, the BBC's US partner, to be the first candidate to advance. However, the identity of her opponent remains uncertain.
The runoff contender could be either fellow Democrat and city council member Nithya Raman or Republican newcomer and reality television personality Spencer Pratt.
The victor will assume leadership of the second-largest city in the United States, which faces significant challenges including homelessness and affordable housing shortages. Additionally, Los Angeles is preparing to host the 2028 Olympic Games.
This mayoral election was part of a broader set of primary elections held Tuesday across California, Iowa, New Jersey, and New Mexico, which will influence the midterm elections nationwide in November.
Meanwhile, vote counting continued late Tuesday in the California governor's primary, where the top two candidates will also advance to the November general election.
California employs a "jungle primary" system, where the two candidates receiving the most votes for governor and Los Angeles mayor proceed to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
In Los Angeles, a mayoral candidate who achieves 50% or more of the vote wins outright; otherwise, the top two candidates advance to a runoff.
With nearly half of the votes counted Tuesday night, Bass held 36.5%, Pratt 29.5%, and Raman 21%.
If Bass wins the November election, it will mark her second and final term as mayor.
Bass has an extensive political and community organizing background in Los Angeles, including six terms in the U.S. Congress representing parts of the city. She chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and was a prominent member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In 2020, Bass was reportedly considered as a potential vice-presidential running mate for then-presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Her mayoral tenure has been defined by efforts to address the city's homelessness crisis, respond to federal immigration raids, and manage emergency responses to disasters such as the Palisades Fire. The fire was one of several destructive wildfires in Southern California in January 2025.
Bass has faced widespread criticism following the Palisades Fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and resulted in 12 fatalities. The fire ranks among California's most destructive on record, and the city's response has been heavily scrutinized.
Among her critics is Spencer Pratt, a registered Republican who launched a longshot mayoral campaign in January, coinciding with the anniversary of the wildfire that destroyed his home.
The 42-year-old Pratt has been a vocal critic of Bass's handling of the fire, which devastated his affluent coastal community.
Although Pratt holds a degree in political science, he is a political outsider with no prior public office experience. His campaign has focused on reforming what he describes as a broken Los Angeles, highlighting concerns about safety and cleanliness, and advocating for mandatory drug treatment programs to address homelessness.
Pratt first gained public attention in 2007 as a cast member of "The Hills," an MTV reality show spin-off of "Laguna Beach," where he was known for his dramatic and sometimes abrasive persona as the boyfriend of Heidi Montag. The couple later married and have two children.
Nithya Raman's entry into the mayoral race was unexpected, occurring just before the filing deadline and shortly after she had endorsed Bass.
The 44-year-old urban planner and left-wing politician has served on the Los Angeles City Council since 2020 but has not received mayoral endorsements from her council colleagues.
Raman has been compared to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as both are members of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Her campaign platform emphasizes expanding affordable housing, reducing homelessness, and revitalizing employment opportunities in Hollywood. She has criticized Bass for insufficient action on homelessness.
California Governor's Race Remains Unresolved
Polls have closed, but ballots are still being counted in the California governor's primary race.
This contest has become the most expensive gubernatorial race in the state's history, with leading candidates including Steve Hilton, a British-American TV host endorsed by former President Donald Trump; former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra; and progressive billionaire Tom Steyer.
The race has been dynamic and lacks a clear front-runner in a state governed by liberals since 2011.
Hilton, a former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, is known for his role in Conservative Party strategy during the politically turbulent period leading to Brexit. He is also noted for his distinctive California fashion style, often appearing barefoot and without a tie.
In California, Hilton campaigns on a platform to "disrupt the system," pledging to address the homelessness crisis, advocate for closer cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and roll back sanctuary policies.
Becerra emphasizes his extensive political experience in Congress and California state government. He opposes Trump's policies and has promised to freeze insurance and utility rates for Californians.
Steyer campaigns on progressive issues such as implementing a single-payer healthcare system and closing tax loopholes to ensure California's wealthy contribute a fairer share.
The election occurs amid widespread economic challenges in California, which has the highest cost of living in the United States.
