Full Breakdown
Los Angeles Mayoral Primary: Bass Leads, Pratt Holds Second, Raman Narrows Gap
6/6/2026, 11:46:40 AM
Primary Results – Who Won, Who’s Behind
On June 2 2026 Los Angeles held its nonpartisan mayoral primary. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass led with roughly 35 % of the vote (? 183,700 votes). Former reality-TV star Spencer Pratt held second place with about 30 % (? 157,000 votes). City Councilmember Nithya Raman trailed in third with roughly 22-23 % (? 120,000 votes). No candidate surpassed the 50 % threshold, so the top two will face each other in a November 3 runoff.
Background & Context
The race unfolded amid lingering criticism of Bass’s first term, especially her handling of the January 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfire, a surge in street homelessness, and budget pressures. Los Angeles’ “jungle primary” advances the two highest vote-getters regardless of party affiliation; Bass is a Democrat, Pratt a registered Republican, and Raman a self-identified Democrat and member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Key Figures & Groups
- Karen Bass – Mayor since 2022, former U.S. Representative, backed by Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and major labor unions (e.g., IATSE, Hollywood Teamsters).
- Spencer Pratt – MTV “The Hills” alumnus, fire-victim, runs as an outsider, supported by conservative commentators and received a public nod from former President Donald Trump.
- Nithya Raman – Councilmember for District 4, urban-planning graduate of MIT, endorsed by progressive figures such as Tina Fey and Mindy Kaling, and supported by the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter.
Data & Statistics
- Ballot processing: ? 71 % of expected votes counted by the evening of June 2; 1.6 million ballots processed, with ? 543,000 mail-in and provisional ballots still pending.
- Vote totals (various sources): Bass 35 %–36.6 %; Pratt 29 %–30.4 %; Raman 22 %–23 %.
- Turnout: 27.4 % of registered voters had cast ballots by the night of the primary.
- Remaining ballots: estimates range from 250,000 to 300,000 city votes still to be tallied.
Why It Matters
The runoff will determine who guides Los Angeles through critical challenges: completing wildfire recovery, expanding affordable housing, addressing homelessness, and preparing for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The contest also reflects broader voter frustration with established political structures.
Official Statements & Responses
- Bass highlighted declines in street homelessness and a historic low in homicides, framing her record as “progress on homelessness, safety and infrastructure.”
- Pratt accused Bass of “mismanagement of the fire response” and promised a “real 180-degree change” to public safety and homelessness policy.
- Raman called for “new leadership” to overcome “city bureaucracy” and criticized the “Inside Safe” program as costly and incremental.
- Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State, emphasized that “accuracy comes before speed” in finalizing the count.
Criticism & Opposition
Local activists and former officials have faulted Bass for delayed wildfire response and for approving police-union pay raises that they say strain the budget. Pratt’s lack of political experience has been highlighted by opponents, while Raman faces pushback from some council members over her housing-policy votes. President Trump’s vague endorsement of Pratt and commentator Bill O’Reilly’s prediction that “Pratt gets murdered” illustrate the partisan overtones surrounding the race.
On-the-Ground Reports
Voter Jose Rivera praised Bass as “doing a pretty good job,” while Leo Blain expressed confidence in Raman’s “understanding of how the city works” and her potential effectiveness as mayor.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on exact percentages and vote totals for each candidate, and estimates of remaining ballots vary widely. No final certified results are available, leaving the precise margin between Pratt and Raman uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Accuracy comes before speed,” — Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State
- “I think he’s tapping into the anger and frustration that people have,” — Karen Bass
- “We can have the city that we know we all deserve,” — Karen Bass
- “I have five months now to prove that to them.” — Spencer Pratt
What’s Next
Los Angeles will continue counting the remaining ballots through mid-June. The top two finishers will campaign for the November 3 runoff, focusing on homelessness, housing, wildfire resilience, and the city’s Olympic preparations.
