Key Takeaways
- Former reality‑TV personality Spencer Pratt has fallen to third place in the Los Angeles mayoral contest after a fresh ballot drop on June 7, 2026.
- Progressive City Councilwoman Nithya Raman now leads with 27.12 % of the vote, narrowly edging out Pratt’s 26.69 %.
- Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass retains a solid advantage at 34.68 % and is poised to advance to the November runoff.
- Pratt’s campaign has been marked by conspiracy‑laden claims about election integrity and a controversial web‑story linking vote counts to homelessness data.
- The race underscores the dynamics of California’s “jungle primary” system and reflects broader partisan battles over voter confidence in Los Angeles elections.
Context of the Los Angeles Mayoral Race
The contest to succeed Mayor Karen Bass is unfolding under California’s jungle primary rules, wherein the top two vote‑getters advance regardless of party affiliation. In the latest tally released by the Los Angeles County Registrar‑Recorder/County Clerk on June 7, 2026, Bass holds a commanding lead with 34.68 % of the ballots cast, totaling 250,871 votes. This strong showing positions her to likely secure one of the two spots in the November general election, leaving the remaining two positions to be contested between Raman, Pratt, and other hopefuls. The primary’s open nature has turned the race into a multi‑candidate showdown that blends celebrity influence, progressive advocacy, and traditional political machinery.
Spencer Pratt’s Surge and Vote Share Spencer Pratt, once known for his role as an instigator on MTV’s The Hills, has transformed his public persona into that of a conservative outsider challenging the established political order. According to the June 7 update, he now commands 26.69 % of the vote, amounting to 193,085 ballots. This places him just behind Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who holds 27.12 % with 196,198 votes. Although Pratt’s numbers have slipped slightly since the June 6 count—when he stood at 27.32 % versus Raman’s 26.21 %—he remains a viable contender for the second runoff slot, trailing only the incumbent mayor. His ascent illustrates how celebrity status can translate into substantial voter support in a city that values name recognition alongside policy platforms.
Nithya Raman’s Lead and Campaign Strategies
Councilwoman Nithya Raman, first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2020, has leveraged her record of progressive governance to mount a compelling mayoral campaign. Her surge in the latest ballot count reflects a 0.91 % increase in vote share over the past day, underscoring a steady accumulation of support. Raman’s campaign has distinguished itself with a culturally resonant closing advertisement that repurposes the iconic The Hills theme “Unwritten,” performed by singer Natasha Bedingfield. The ad not only pays homage to the show that catapulted Pratt to fame but also signals a broader effort to connect with younger voters. Moreover, Raman has positioned herself as a critic of Bass’s leadership, asserting that the incumbent “failed to lead this city” and must be replaced to steer Los Angeles toward a more equitable future.
Tom Steyer and Steve Hilton’s Positions
While the mayoral race focuses on Bass, Raman, and Pratt, the broader political landscape includes gubernatorial ambitions that intersect with local dynamics. Billionaire activist Tom Steyer, an ally of Raman, remains a peripheral figure in the statewide narrative, whereas Steve Hilton—endorsed by former President Donald Trump—holds the second spot in the gubernatorial primary. Both men are positioned to influence the mayoral contest indirectly, as their platforms resonate with constituents concerned about fiscal policy and state‑level governance. The interplay between these high‑profile figures and the mayoral race illustrates how statewide ambitions can amplify local electoral stakes. Spencer Pratt’s Controversial Theories and Election Security Remarks
Pratt has not shied away from sowing doubt about the integrity of Los Angeles’ electoral process. He has publicly questioned the accuracy of the city’s vote count and amplified a theory linking newly discovered ballots to a March article from the California Housing Partnership concerning homelessness rates. These assertions echo broader conspiracy narratives that have proliferated among certain voter segments. On June 7, the same day Pratt’s campaign released this theory, President Trump walked off a “Meet the Press” interview with moderator Kristen Welker after a tense exchange about California’s election security. Trump had previously labeled California’s June 2 primaries as “rigged,” accusing election officials of cheating. Pratt’s alignment with such claims underscores his willingness to adopt a confrontational stance toward election administration.
Political Commentary and Reactions
National Republican observers have seized upon the protracted ballot tabulation in Los Angeles as evidence of a flawed electoral infrastructure, drawing comparisons to New York City’s chaotic mayoral race that culminated in a win for Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in November 2025. Critics argue that the extended counting period erodes public confidence and provides fodder for partisan attacks. At the same time, the jungle primary format itself has drawn praise and criticism: while it encourages cross‑party competition, it also raises the stakes for candidates who must appeal to a broad electorate early on. The current Los Angeles mayoral race thus serves as a litmus test for how celebrity influence, progressive policy, and partisan rhetoric intersect within a complex electoral system.
Personal Narrative of Spencer Pratt
Beyond the numbers, Pratt’s campaign narrative is deeply intertwined with his personal experience of loss and resilience. In the 2023 Los Angeles wildfires, he revealed that he lost his home, an event that has become a cornerstone of his platform. Leveraging this trauma, he has appealed directly to local mothers, promising stringent measures to combat homelessness and improve public safety. His messaging positions him as a candidate who “channels people’s frustrations about this city into fear and anger and hatred,” a critique he levels at incumbent Bass and his political opponents. By foregrounding his personal hardships, Pratt seeks to humanize his campaign and translate lived experience into policy proposals.
Future Outlook and Potential Runoffs
As the Los Angeles mayoral race approaches the November runoff, the dynamics among the top three contenders—Mayor Karen Bass, Councilwoman Nithya Raman, and Spencer Pratt—remain fluid. With Bass’s substantial lead, the primary contest is likely to hinge on whether Raman can maintain her momentum and whether Pratt can reclaim lost ground in the coming weeks. The interplay of celebrity influence, progressive advocacy, and election‑security rhetoric will continue to shape voter perceptions. Analysts predict that the runoff will test the city’s appetite for change versus continuity, making Los Angeles a pivotal battleground for national political narratives heading into the 2028 presidential cycle.