► Key Points – Spencer Pratt Shocks Los Angeles
- The LA Mayor Race June 2 primary is a three-way photo finish: Bass 26%, Raman 25%, Pratt 22% per the UC Berkeley-LA Times poll
- Spencer Pratt polls surged 8 points since March, making him the clear second-place challenger in prediction markets at 27% on Kalshi
- Incumbent Karen Bass leads but holds an unfavorable rating among more than half of Los Angeles voters
- Nithya Raman surged 8 points in the same poll and briefly led in a separate Loyola Marymount University survey at 33%
- Governor Gavin Newsom endorsed Karen Bass on May 28, 2026, in a last-minute boost to the incumbent’s campaign
- Pratt’s sister Stephanie called his candidacy “stupid” but later softened her stance, saying she now supports him
- If no candidate tops 50%, the top two advance to a November 3 runoff under Los Angeles election rules
By TrenBuzz Staff · June 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Six months ago, the idea of Spencer Pratt, the self-described villain of MTV reality series “The Hills,” as a serious contender for Mayor of Los Angeles would have made most political observers laugh. Today, with votes being counted in the June 2 primary, campaign strategists across California are not laughing. They are watching very closely.
The latest Spencer Pratt LA Mayor Race polls from UC Berkeley and the Los Angeles Times show a race so tight it defies comfortable prediction. Incumbent Karen Bass sits at 26%. Councilmember Nithya Raman is at 25%. Pratt is at 22%. Every candidate is within the margin of error. Campaign strategist Luis Alvarado told CBS Los Angeles: “Everybody is tied. I have not seen a race this close in decades.”
Why Spencer Pratt Is Surging in Los Angeles
Pratt’s campaign began as a celebrity long shot in January 2026, fueled by personal anger over the Pacific Palisades wildfire that destroyed his home. He campaigned relentlessly on homelessness, drug addiction, crime, fire preparedness, and the soaring cost of living. His framing was blunt: “It is not a homelessness problem. It is a drug addiction problem,” he said on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street on May 28.
In a city where half of voters view Karen Bass unfavorably, Pratt’s outsider identity became an asset rather than a liability. Spencer Pratt polls show he gained 8 percentage points since March, the same jump as Raman. His presence in prediction markets, priced at 27% on Kalshi versus Bass at 69%, reflects genuine belief that he can force a runoff.
Karen Bass, Nithya Raman and the Road to November
Karen Bass enters primary day with the endorsement of Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and most of Los Angeles’s Democratic establishment. Her campaign argues she reduced homelessness and hired more police officers. Her advisors say she holds a “strong double-digit lead” in internal polling, a claim that conflicts with every public survey released in the final week.
Nithya Raman, the Los Angeles City Councilmember backed by progressive groups, surged into contention with a disciplined ground game and strong small-dollar fundraising. One Loyola Marymount survey actually placed her first at 33%, though that poll used candidate descriptions and was considered an outlier. She remains the wild card in a race that could produce any combination of two finalists for the November runoff.
Under Los Angeles election rules, if no candidate wins more than 50% of votes tonight, the two highest finishers advance to a November 3 general election. Given that no public poll has placed any candidate above 30%, a November runoff between two of these three candidates looks almost certain. The only question is which two walk through the door.
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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational and news reporting purposes only. Content is based on publicly available polling and reporting from NBC Los Angeles, CBS Los Angeles, CNBC, KTLA, Newsweek, and the UC Berkeley-LA Times poll as of June 2, 2026, and does not constitute an electoral endorsement or political advice. Polling figures are pre-election estimates and do not reflect official vote counts. TrenBuzz.com does not endorse any candidate or political party. All trademarks and names belong to their respective owners.