- A surprising mayoral contest is unfolding in Los Angeles , featuring incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass , progressive city council member Nithya Raman, and reality television personality Spencer Pratt.
- Spencer Pratt, known from The Hills and a registered Republican, is mounting an insurgent campaign, focusing on local issues and distancing himself from national politics despite a nod from President Donald Trump.
- Mayor Bass's first term has been challenged by persistent homelessness, visible encampments, and the fallout from the 2025 Palisades Fire, which occurred while she was abroad.
- Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, has made the city's recovery from the blaze and broader concerns about declining quality of life, such as 'dirtier streets' and 'more homeless encampments,' central to his platform.
- A recent poll co-sponsored by the University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Governmental Studies and The Los Angeles Times indicates a highly competitive race, with all three candidates tightly clustered and no one holding a statistically significant lead among likely voters.
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