LOS ANGELES — Reality television star Spencer Pratt has been knocked out of the race for mayor of Los Angeles, failing to advance to the November runoff after a surprisingly competitive but ultimately unsuccessful primary campaign.
With more than 93% of ballots counted from the June 2 nonpartisan primary, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass led with 34.3% of the vote. City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a progressive challenger, overtook Pratt late in the count to secure second place with 28.5%. Pratt finished third with 25.8% (207,757 votes), eliminating him from contention.
Pratt, the 42-year-old former The Hills antagonist and a registered Republican, launched his long-shot bid in January 2026 on the one-year anniversary of the devastating Palisades Fire that destroyed his home. He positioned himself as an outsider determined to “save LA,” hammering Bass over the city’s response to the wildfire (which burned more than 23,000 acres and killed 12 people), the ongoing homelessness crisis affecting tens of thousands, and crumbling infrastructure.
His unorthodox campaign — including viral stunts like living in an Airstream trailer on his scorched property — drew national headlines and turned the typically low-drama Los Angeles race into a national curiosity. Though he trailed early projections on election night, Pratt briefly led Raman before mail-in ballots pushed the councilmember ahead by more than 20,000 votes.
Bass and Raman will now face off in the November 3 general election. Pratt’s supporters credited him with channeling widespread frustration with city leadership even in defeat. The former reality star has not yet commented publicly on his next steps, though his campaign website remains active as of Tuesday afternoon.
The outcome sets up a contest between the incumbent Democrat and a left-leaning challenger in a city long dominated by progressive politics.
SOURCES:
Los Angeles mayor race: Spencer Pratt eliminated from race for mayor as Nithya Raman, Karen Bass advance to runoff – ABC7 Los Angeles
Spencer Pratt out of LA mayor race as left-wing rival Nithya Raman advances
