UMVA has learned that reality TV star Spencer Pratt is on track to clear a major hurdle in Los Angeles' mayoral race, as he seeks to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November.
Bass, who has led the city since 2022, faced a turbulent stretch marked by her response to devastating wildfires. Despite being endorsed by Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, she failed to secure a majority of the vote in Tuesday's primary election, advancing to a runoff.
The anticipated runoff is seen as a symbolic blow to Bass, who has spent decades serving California in various elected Democratic offices. Her campaign has touted her efforts to address homelessness, build more housing, and hire new police officers.
Pratt, a first-time candidate known for his appearance on the MTV reality show "The Hills," was running in second place as of Wednesday morning. He gloated to reporters, saying, "Obviously, God wanted five more months of me exposing the failures of our mayor."
Pratt has relentlessly targeted Bass on issues that have long plagued the city, including fire recovery, street homelessness, and crime. He holds Bass personally responsible for the devastating wildfires that destroyed over 18,000 structures, including his Pacific Palisades home.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Pratt's surge appears to have shut out Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, a former ally of Bass who challenged the incumbent from the left. Raman has not yet conceded, despite running well behind Bass and Pratt.
Pratt, a registered Republican, faces an uphill battle to defeat Bass in November, with less than 20% of voters in the heavily Democratic city identifying with the GOP. However, Rep. Darrell Issa noted that Pratt has won a following due to widespread voter discontent with Bass' leadership.
Issa stated that Pratt is catching fire among ardent historic Democrat voters because they perceive Bass as ineffective. "Every time she opens her mouth, she's talking about more of the same to people who have seen their streets, both crime-ridden and in fact … ineffectively managed," he said.
Bass, on the other hand, argues that her leadership is leading Los Angeles in the right direction, citing decreases in homelessness and increases in housing construction and police hiring.
