Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, is making waves in the Los Angeles mayoral race, polling at 22% just behind incumbent Mayor Karen Bass at 26% and City Councilmember Nithya Raman at 25%, according to a recent UC Berkeley-Los Angeles Times poll.
With the primary election approaching, Pratt's campaign has gained traction, as he and Raman both increased their support by eight percentage points since March. The nonpartisan nature of the election means that if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote, the top two will advance to a runoff in November.
Pratt, a registered Republican, has positioned himself as a pro-business candidate focused on issues such as homelessness, crime, and drug addiction, criticizing Bass for her handling of these challenges.
He has proposed using California's SB 43 law to mandate treatment for individuals with severe addiction or mental illness, framing the issue as a drug addiction problem rather than a homelessness crisis. Despite his growing popularity, Pratt faces significant challenges in a predominantly Democratic city, where Bass has institutional support and Raman is vying for the same anti-Bass voter base.
Prediction market Kalshi estimates Pratt's chances of winning at around 22%, reflecting both the rising interest in his candidacy and the uncertainties of the race