# Reality TV Star Spencer Pratt Surges in LA Mayor Race

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/reality-tv-star-spencer-pratt-surges-in-la-mayor-race-4
- Published: 2026-06-04T19:11:54.261095+00:00
- Topics: los-angeles, mayor, elections, california

## What the left says
- Bass faces legitimate voter frustration over her handling of the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, which created an opening for challengers to exploit public dissatisfaction
- Pratt's campaign represents a concerning trend of celebrity candidates without governing experience capitalizing on crisis moments to gain political power
- The close race demonstrates how even progressive cities can be vulnerable to populist appeals when residents feel their basic needs aren't being met by current leadership

## What the right says
- Bass's struggle to avoid a runoff after decades of incumbent mayors winning outright reflects deep voter dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership in America's second-largest city
- Pratt's surge demonstrates that ordinary citizens are willing to support political outsiders who promise real change over establishment politicians who have failed to deliver results
- The mayor's poor handling of the fires and ongoing city problems like homelessness show why voters are ready to reject failed progressive policies in favor of fresh leadership

## Common ground
- No incumbent Los Angeles mayor has faced a runoff election in more than two decades, making this race historically significant
- The devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in early 2025 became a major factor influencing voter sentiment in the mayoral race
- Vote counting in California primaries can take days or weeks to complete due to the state's mail-in ballot processing system
- The race has drawn national attention due to Los Angeles being the country's second-largest city

## Sources
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-06-04-0700/elections-spencer-pratt-surges-closer-runoff-la-mayors-race-after-angry-voters-send-message-karen-bass) (Center)
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-06-04-0700/elections-los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-advances-run-race-run-californias-biggest-city) (Center)
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-06-04-0700/elections-los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-punched-her-ticket-novembers-election-spencer-pratt-still-hoping-his) (Center)
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-06-03-0700/elections-bass-heads-runoff-los-angeles-mayoral-race) (Center)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/los-angeles-mayoral-race-bass-raman-pratt-2026/) (Lean Left)
- [RealClearPolitics](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/06/04/voters_are_sending_a_message_to_las_mayor_bass_701589.html) (Center)
- [The Economist](https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/05/28/are-angelenos-angry-enough-to-elect-an-insurgent-as-mayor) (Lean Right)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/03/democrat-karen-bass-cant-avoid-runoff-amid-an-angry-spasm-la/) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2026/06/02/la-mayor-primary-live-results-karen-bass-faces-spencer-pratt-nithya-raman/) (Lean Left)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-election-results-governor-los-angeles-mayor/) (Lean Left)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/live-updates-california-primary-election-results-for-key-2026-races/) (Lean Left)
- [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-election-results-still-undecided-los-angeles-begins-counting-ballots) (Right)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/04/california-governors-race) (Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2026/06/02/california-governor-primary-live-results-becerra-steyer-hilton-are-competing/) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2026/06/02/new-mexico-governor-primary-election-results-live-deb-haaland-faces-sam-bergman/) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/04/california-democrats-vote-strategically-governor-race/) (Lean Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/03/seven-takeaways-big-primary-night-iowa-california-more/) (Lean Left)

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