Story perspectives

Trump Backs Spencer Pratt in Tight LA Mayoral Primary

6/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed reality-TV star Spencer Pratt, making the Los Angeles mayoral race a story.
The June 2, 2026 primary featured Karen Bass, Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt, with Karen Bass announcing it would be her final campaign and citing endorsements from Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Early voting on June 1 showed Karen Bass at 26%, Nithya Raman at 25% and Spencer Pratt at 22%.

History

Historical Context

In November 2003, California held a historic recall election that installed actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor, overturning Governor Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger captured 48.6% of the 7.5 million votes, while the Republican Party hailed the win as a breakthrough for outsider candidates. Today’s Los Angeles mayoral primary mirrors that moment, with reality-TV star Spencer Pratt receiving a 22% early-voting share alongside politicians Karen Bass and Nithya Raman. The parallel suggests celebrity appeal can reshape local elections, prompting parties to weigh name-recognition over traditional experience in future contests.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed reality-TV star Spencer Pratt, making the Los Angeles mayoral race a story.
The June 2, 2026 primary featured Karen Bass, Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt, with Karen Bass announcing it would be her final campaign and citing endorsements from Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Early voting on June 1 showed Karen Bass at 26%, Nithya Raman at 25% and Spencer Pratt at 22%.

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