UMVA has learned that Spencer Pratt, the former reality television star, has been knocked out of the running to become the next mayor of Los Angeles.
Pratt, known for his appearance on The Hills, was leading in the vote count on election night, but ultimately lost ground to Nithya Raman, a hard-left Democrat, after more votes were counted in the days following the primary on June 2.
Raman will now face off against incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a November vote, and some speculate that she could pose a greater threat to Bass than Pratt would have.
As a member of the city council, Raman has campaigned far to the left of Bass, which could prove significant in a city where Democrat voters far outnumber Republicans.
Pratt, a registered Republican, had been gaining traction with Angelenos by taking Bass to task over growing crime rates, homelessness, and her response to the L.A. wildfires, which had a personal impact on Pratt when he lost his house.
However, Pratt's campaign came to an end after Raman gained 43,000 votes on him, sparking accusations of vote manipulation from Pratt and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump took to social media to express his concerns, stating that the election was "crooked" and that America was being "cheated," while Pratt shared a screenshot of an article about homelessness in LA, implying that something fishy was going on.
The mayoral election is officially non-partisan, but with Raman's progressive stance and Bass's incumbent position, the stage is set for a heated battle in November.
Raman's campaign could prove to be a challenge for Bass, who, like other Democrat-leaning mayors, is facing criticism for her handling of pressing issues such as crime and homelessness.
