Former reality television star Spencer Pratt has lost his bid to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, with progressive city councillor Nithya Raman edging him out in the primary. Raman will face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November's election, according to results called by the Associated Press on Monday night.
Pratt, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades fire in January, had framed his campaign as a response to the city's deep-seated problems. He tapped into anger over the cost-of-living crisis and the enduring homelessness emergency, using his large social media following to amplify his message, including sharing AI-generated advertisements that depicted Los Angeles in an apocalyptic light.
However, his lack of governing experience and status as a registered Republican proved significant obstacles in a predominantly Democratic city. Los Angeles has not elected a Republican mayor since Richard Riordan in 1993. Pratt dismissed questions about his capability, saying: "I'm a lifelong Angeleno who's seen my home city waste away under poor leadership. THAT is my experience."
Since the primary, Pratt has not conceded. He has been uncharacteristically quiet on social media, apart from suggesting without evidence that Raman had rounded up unhoused people to vote for her. On Tuesday, he broke his silence to post a picture of a duck, apparently referring to Bass as a lame duck.
The race drew attention from Donald Trump, who had endorsed Pratt and described California's primaries as "crooked". Trump's endorsement was widely viewed as a hindrance in a city where he is deeply unpopular. Pratt has said he voted for Trump in 2024.
Los Angeles continues to face significant challenges, with polls showing most residents believe the city is headed in the wrong direction. The city is short of 270,000 affordable housing units, and nearly 44,000 people remain without housing, despite a 17.5% reduction in street homelessness under Bass. As of Monday, Pratt had secured 25.8% of the vote.
