Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will advance to the November general election runoff after building a commanding lead in Tuesday’s primary, according to a projection by the Associated Press.
With 51% of ballots counted, Bass held 36% of the vote, putting her comfortably ahead of reality television personality Spencer Pratt, who received 29%, and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who trailed with 21%. Pratt and Raman remained locked in a battle for second place late Tuesday night.
Addressing supporters, Bass expressed confidence in the outcome and celebrated her strong showing.
“In a couple of hours, we will declare victory!” Bass told supporters. She thanked voters for standing by her throughout the campaign and vowed to continue serving the city.
“We are going to continue moving our city forward because this is the greatest city in the world,” Bass said. “I have devoted my entire life to serving the city that I love, where I was born, and I will continue to do that all the way to victory in November.”
Bass entered the race facing criticism over her response to the devastating Palisades Fire in January 2025. The wildfire erupted while she was on a diplomatic trip to Ghana, prompting her to return to Los Angeles as flames spread through Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The disaster destroyed more than 15,000 structures and claimed 12 lives. Pratt was among those who lost homes in the fire.
Despite trailing Bass, Pratt struck an optimistic tone while speaking with reporters Tuesday evening.
“I’m going to prove to everybody that this is for real,” Pratt said, while criticizing Bass’ record on issues including road maintenance, public safety, and homelessness. He also said he would welcome multiple debates with the mayor ahead of the general election.
Meanwhile, Raman thanked supporters for helping elevate what she described as an underdog campaign. She highlighted issues such as housing affordability, government effectiveness, immigrant protections, LGBTQ rights, and neighborhood safety as central to her vision for Los Angeles.
Under Los Angeles election rules, if no candidate secures a majority of the vote, the top two finishers advance to a runoff election. With no candidate nearing the 50% threshold, the race now appears headed for a high-profile November showdown.
