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The Guardian World1 min read
Karen Bass heads to LA mayoral runoff after falling short of majority
TL;DR
Karen Bass leads the LA mayoral primary but fell short of a majority, necessitating a runoff in November. She will face either Spencer Pratt or Nithya Raman for the mayoral seat.
Key points
- Karen Bass leads LA mayoral primary
- Less than 50% of the vote requires a runoff
- November election will feature either Pratt or Raman
- Next mayor must tackle homelessness and emergency response
- Pratt's campaign gained national attention
Mentioned in this story
Karen BassSpencer PrattNithya RamanLos Angeles
Karen Bass has come out ahead in Tuesday’s heated primary for Los Angeles mayor, but with less than 50% of the vote will have to defend her seat in November’s general election.
Bass will face either Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, or city council member Nithya Raman, in November. As of Tuesday evening, it was still unclear who would move on**.**
Los Angeles’s next mayor will be tasked with showing progress in curbing the homelessness crisis, an issue that has long vexed the nation’s second-most populous city, revitalizing Hollywood amid a production exodus and shoring up emergency response programs after last year’s deadly wildfires.
The race initially seemed poised to be an intra-party match-up between Bass and her former ally Raman.
But the contest took a turn in its final weeks as Pratt made substantial gains in polling and sparked national attention with controversial campaign videos and a combative debate performance.
Before her time in city hall, Bass had been a fixture of state and national politics, serving long and respected tenures in the state assembly and US Congress. She made history as the first woman to lead Los Angeles, triumphing over billionaire developer Rick Caruso in the 2022 election, and was met with high approval ratings when she assumed office.
In her first month in office, Bass declared a state of emergency on homelessness, a move to expedite the construction of temporary and permanent housing. Her office has touted Inside Safe, a program that clears encampments and secures interim housing, typically motel rooms, for people living on the streets.
Discontent with Bass’s tenure intensified sharply following the deadly January 2025 wildfires, which killed at least 31 people. Bass had been in Ghana on an ill-timed diplomatic trip when the fires broke out. Her absence, coupled with reports about budget cuts to the fire department, sparked a barrage of calls to resign.
Bass later called the trip a “mistake” and said had she been informed of the fire risk, she would not have gone abroad. The National Weather Service had issued warnings about “critical fire conditions” before her trip. Her approval ratings fell, and Bass later sacked the city fire chief. Since then, residents have been frustrated with a slow pace of rebuilding.
Q&A
Who will Karen Bass face in the LA mayoral runoff?
Karen Bass will face either Spencer Pratt or Nithya Raman in the November runoff election.
What percentage of the vote did Karen Bass receive in the primary?
Karen Bass received less than 50% of the vote in the primary election.
What are the key issues for the next mayor of Los Angeles?
The next mayor will need to address the homelessness crisis, revitalization of Hollywood, and improve emergency response programs.
What impact did Spencer Pratt have on the LA mayoral race?
Spencer Pratt gained substantial attention with controversial campaign videos and a strong debate performance, altering the dynamics of the race.
