Spencer Pratt's Chances in Los Angeles Mayor Race Less Than Week to Primary
Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass could be facing a tight race in her reelection bid ahead of the June 2 primary as she aims to defeat challengers including Republican reality TV star Spencer Pratt and progressive Nithya Raman.
If Bass is unable to clear 50 percent in the primary next week, a runoff will be held between the two candidates with the most support in the race to lead the nation's second-most populous city. Bass has suffered low approval ratings and criticism over her leadership amid wildfires throughout her tenure, vulnerabilities her rivals aim to use against her in the election.
She has drawn several challengers including Pratt, Raman, activist Rae Huang and entrepreneur Adam Miller, with Pratt generating national buzz and Hollywood support due to his name recognition.
Pratt, who starred in MTV’s reality show The Hills, is viewed as the leading Republican candidate in the race, having launched his political career after the devastating 2025 Palisades wildfire that destroyed parts of Southern California. He faces difficult headwinds in the Democratic stronghold, but many of his supporters in Hollywood hope he can pull off an upset victory against Bass.
Newsweek reached out to the campaign teams for comment via email.
Bass Leads Polls-But Could Face Runoff
The latest polls of the race signal a competitive primary for Bass, with a significant number of voters heading into the final campaign stretch unsure of whom they would support. Polling generally gives Bass a lead, with Pratt and Raman battling for the second spot in the potential runoff.
Here is a look at the latest polls:
Cygnal (May 15-18, 500 likely voters)
- Karen Bass: 25 percent
- Spencer Pratt: 22 percent
- Nithya Raman: 18 percent
- Rae Huang: 5 percent
- Adam Miller: 5 percent
- Don't know: 19 percent
Emerson College (May 9-10, 350 likely voters)
- Karen Bass: 35 percent
- Nithya Raman: 23 percent
- Spencer Pratt: 23 percent
- Adam Miller: 12 percent
- Rae Huang: 5 percent
- Someone else: 3 percent
Tavern Research (May 1-4, 531 likely voters)
- Karen Bass: 22 percent
- Spencer Pratt: 18 percent
- Nithya Raman: 16 percent
- Adam Miller: 6 percent
- Rae Huang: 5 percent
- Don't know: 29 percent
- Someone else: 4 percent
What Do Prediction Markets Show?
Bass' chances have surged in recent weeks on prediction markets. As of Wednesday, she had a 69 percent chance of winning reelection on Kalshi and a 71 percent chance of winning on Polymarket.
Kalshi gave Pratt a 27 percent chance and Raman a 6 percent chance, while Polymarket gave Pratt a 24 percent chance and Raman also a 6 percent chance of winning.
Prediction markets allow traders to buy and sell contracts tied to political outcomes and current events, aggregating real‑money wagers into probability estimates. Prices fluctuate as traders react to polling, fundraising, candidate developments and broader political trends. They measure trader sentiment at a given moment but do not always accurately predict the future.
Spencer Pratt Attracts Hollywood Support-But Will It Be Enough?
Pratt has the backing of several celebrities and reality TV stars including Paris Hilton, Vanderpump Rules alum Jax Taylor, podcaster Joe Rogan, reality star Kristin Cavallari and actress Katharine McPhee.
But he faces an uphill battle in Los Angeles, one of the most deeply Democratic cities in the country. Former Vice President Kamala Harris carried Los Angeles County, which includes the city of Los Angeles and its suburbs, with about 65 percent of the vote in the 2024 presidential race, making it difficult for a more conservative candidate to win in even a nonpartisan race.
Pratt has also garnered attention for his use of artificial intelligence in his ads.
One viral ad showed him outside the homes of Bass and Raman, before moving to the mobile home where he has lived with his family since they lost their home in last year's deadly fire.
Both Bass and Raman hit back at the ad in comments to Newsweek, with a spokesperson for Bass' campaign saying Pratt was “doing his best Trump impression.” Raman called the ad a “political stunt” and said filming outside of her home “feels unnecessary and reckless.”
Pratt branded Bass "disgusting" after she accused him of capitalizing on the grief of victims of the Palisades Fire to elevate his public profile, saying on Fox News' The Will Cain Show that her comments were "the most insane, psycho, diabolical thing I’ve heard in a minute."
Not all celebrities are backing Pratt. Lisa Rinna, actress and star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, told Variety she would not support a reality star for mayor.
“You got me, because listen, I'm a reality person. You wouldn't want me as mayor, really. I mean, let's just face it, I love him. I think he's amazing. I just think we did that,” she said.
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 6:54 PM.