Los Angeles Mayoral Race Heats Up Ahead of June 2 Primary

The Los Angeles mayoral race is expanding with new candidates, including reality television personality Spencer Pratt and City Councilmember Nithya Raman, as the June 2 primary approaches. Their entries come amidst ongoing scrutiny of the city's response to the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, a key point of contention for several contenders and a recurring criticism directed at incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. The field is taking shape following several high-profile withdrawals, with approximately 40 individuals expected to appear on the primary ballot.

Spencer Pratt Announces Candidacy

Spencer Pratt, known for his appearances on reality television, announced his candidacy for Los Angeles mayor on January 7, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire. Pratt, 42, made the announcement at a "They Let Us Burn" event in Pacific Palisades, stating his intention to "expose the system" and "disinfect the city" of L.A. politics.

He has publicly criticized Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom's handling of the Palisades Fire.

Images posted by Pratt on social media depicted him signing what appeared to be campaign documents, though his official filing had not been registered at the time of the announcement. This marks Pratt's first bid for public office; he is running as a Republican.

Context of the Palisades and Eaton Fires

The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, affected the Pacific Palisades area, resulting in the destruction of Pratt's home. Source 1 reported 12 fatalities and the burning of over 6,800 homes specifically from the Palisades fire.

Sources 2 and 3 state that the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, which sparked hours later on the opposite side of the city, collectively resulted in 31 fatalities and the destruction of over 16,000 homes and businesses. The city's response to these incidents has become a central point of discussion in the mayoral campaign.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the Los Angeles Fire Department's (LAFD) after-action report on the Palisades fire. Source 1 and Source 5 mention that multiple drafts of the report were reportedly edited to minimize the department's failures, a claim Fire Chief Jaime Moore confirmed. Mayor Bass vehemently disputed the allegations of her involvement in "watering down" the report, calling them "completely fabricated" and stating she ordered the report to uncover the truth.

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass

Mayor Karen Bass, who secured the mayoralty in 2022 and began her re-election campaign in July 2024, is seeking a second term. Her administration has highlighted accomplishments including:

• A reported decrease in homicides.
• A reduction in street homelessness.
• Accelerated affordable housing construction and approval processes, including over 480 homes under construction in the Palisades burn zone due to expedited permitting.
• Increased police presence.

Mayor Bass has faced various criticisms during her tenure and re-election campaign:

• Palisades Fire Response: Criticism for her handling of the incident and rebuilding efforts, including being out of the country during the fire and the departure of a recovery czar.
• After-Action Report Allegations: Criticism concerning reports of her alleged involvement in softening the city's after-action report, which former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso described as a "complete loss of public trust."
• Broader City Issues: Criticisms regarding homelessness, housing production, street repairs, and trash removal.
• County Relations: Bass has criticized county actions regarding the reallocation of funds from a city-county homelessness agency and a county plan to reduce $200 million in homeless services.

Despite Bass's desire to secure over 50% of the vote in the June 2 primary to avoid a November runoff, a campaign spokesperson indicated that a runoff is a "mathematical certainty" given the number of candidates in the race.

Other Candidates and Withdrawals

New Challengers

• Nithya Raman: Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman formally filed her candidacy hours before the deadline, challenging Mayor Bass. Raman cited high housing costs, broken street lights, and the homelessness crisis, stating, "Los Angeles is at a breaking point." While expressing respect for Mayor Bass, Raman emphasized the need for significant changes and for a mayor who can "prepare for emergencies before they happen." Raman, 44, was the first City Council member elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America and previously endorsed Mayor Bass's re-election. If she does not win the mayoral election, she will retain her City Council seat.
• Rae Huang: A community organizer and Democratic socialist, Huang is challenging Mayor Bass from the left on issues such as public safety and housing, advocating for public housing and reduced policing. She has critiqued the mayor's approach as involving excessive finger-pointing.
• Adam Miller: A Brentwood tech entrepreneur, Miller launched a campaign with an intent to self-fund, emphasizing stronger city management.
• Asaad Alnajjar: An employee of the Bureau of Street Lighting and a Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council member, Alnajjar is also running.

High-Profile Withdrawals

Several potential and declared candidates ultimately decided not to run for mayor:

• Rick Caruso: The billionaire real estate developer, who lost to Karen Bass in the 2022 mayoral election, announced he would not pursue campaigns for Los Angeles mayor or California governor. Caruso cited "many heartfelt conversations" with his family for his decision, stating he would continue public service through his nonprofit, Steadfast LA, which focuses on fire recovery efforts. Political consultants expressed surprise at his withdrawal.
• Austin Beutner: The former L.A. schools Superintendent, who had also criticized Mayor Bass's performance regarding the fire, withdrew from the race, citing a family loss.
• Lindsey Horvath: The L.A. County Supervisor representing areas impacted by the Palisades fire, who had been considering a mayoral bid, announced she would not run. Horvath stated her decision to focus on her current supervisorial role and had previously criticized Mayor Bass's administration regarding homelessness and the Palisades fire response.
• Maryam Zar: The founder of a community group for Palisades fire recovery, was weighing a mayoral bid but had not filed by the deadline.

The Election Landscape

The non-partisan mayoral primary is scheduled for June 2, with approximately 40 candidates expected on the ballot, though most are not considered major threats. Incumbent Mayor Bass faces multiple contenders. Political observers have noted an unusual number of major candidates delaying their decisions in this election cycle, with the candidate filing deadline approaching on Saturday at noon.