Full Breakdown
Spencer Pratt Concedes Los Angeles Mayoral Primary, Vows Continued Opposition
6/14/2026, 12:59:18 AM
Election Outcome and Vote Totals
The June 2, 2026 Los Angeles mayoral primary placed incumbent Mayor Karen Bass first with 34 percent of the vote (?291,400 votes), Councilmember Nithya Raman second with 29 percent (?246,300 votes), and former reality-TV personality Spencer Pratt third with ?25 percent (?216,800 votes). Under California’s top-two primary system, only Bass and Raman advance to the November runoff.
Campaign Background and Key Issues
Pratt announced his candidacy in January 2026 at a rally titled “They Let Us Burn,” one year after the 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfire destroyed his home. His platform emphasized faster wildfire-recovery, stricter homelessness policies, and increased police and fire services. He framed the city as facing an “apocalyptic moment” and positioned himself as a challenger to the “corrupt machine” of city government.
Official Responses
Both the Bass and Raman campaigns declined requests for comment on Pratt’s post-primary video. No formal statements were released by the candidates or their representatives regarding his claims or future actions.
Pratt’s Concession Video and Claims
In a three-minute video posted to X on June 12, Pratt said the “campaign portion of my mission to save Los Angeles is coming to a close” and declared that, now free of campaign-law constraints, “it’s war.” He warned that the city would face “more potholes, less firefighters, less police patrols, more criminals, more drug addicts” if either opponent wins. Pratt asserted he possessed a recording that could force one candidate to resign, stating, “We have some recordings of one of your exalted candidates doing and saying something that would make her resign in shame.” He also claimed that major developers, hoteliers, and entrepreneurs were “packing up and leaving town,” which he said would reduce tax revenue and cut city services.
Criticism and Opposition
President Donald Trump publicly labeled the primary results “rigged” and suggested fraud, despite the absence of evidence. Election analysts attributed Pratt’s third-place finish to California’s mail-ballot counting process and the city’s historically low Republican voter share. Media figures such as Jimmy Kimmel mocked Pratt’s earlier pledge to leave Los Angeles, offering a U-Haul, while others, including Dean Cain, expressed support for Pratt’s anti-establishment stance.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Fraud Allegations: Trump’s fraud claims conflict with expert explanations that the vote shift resulted from delayed mail-ballot tallies. No independent verification of irregularities has been presented.
- Secret Recording: Pratt’s alleged video evidence has not been disclosed, and neither Bass nor Raman confirmed its existence.
- Candidate Reactions: Both advancing candidates have remained silent, leaving their positions on Pratt’s accusations unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I didn't get in this for political power, I got in this to expose this corrupt machine and nothing's changed.” — Spencer Pratt
- “You think you can get rid of me that easily?” — Spencer Pratt
- “Angelenos are now stuck with two morons responsible for all their problems and they have to choose between dumb and dumber.” — Spencer Pratt
- “We have some recordings of one of your exalted candidates doing and saying something that would make her resign in shame.” — Spencer Pratt
- “You think your election is going to stop me. If you want to stop me, you’re going to have to fucking kill me.” — Spencer Pratt
Implications for Los Angeles Politics
Pratt’s pledge to continue “exposing the corrupt machine” suggests he may pursue non-electoral avenues—media campaigns, legal challenges, or grassroots activism—to influence the upcoming runoff. His claims and the polarized reactions have amplified debate over city governance, public-service funding, and the role of outsider candidates in a dominantly Democratic electorate.
