LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledges her first term leading the nation’s second-largest city has been challenging as she campaigns for reelection. “I haven’t always got it right,” she admits candidly.
Despite the difficulties, the first Black woman to serve as mayor believes she deserves another chance to lead the nearly 4 million residents of the city preparing to host the 2028 Olympics. Murder rates have declined and street homelessness has decreased under her leadership. Reconstruction of homes lost in devastating wildfires has begun, though critics argue progress remains too slow.
“There’s more work to do,” Bass states.
Mayoral campaigns in Los Angeles typically generate little excitement in a city more focused on the Lakers, Dodgers and entertainment industry than local politics. However, this election cycle stands apart as Bass works to overcome criticism from the Palisades Fire, which became the most destructive blaze in the city’s history. The mayor was traveling in Ghana as part of a presidential delegation when the fire began.
Reality television star Spencer Pratt lost his home in the disaster and now seeks to unseat the mayor he holds responsible for the destruction.
The campaign has taken an unusual turn with artificial intelligence-generated videos featuring Pratt as a superhero fighting street crime and Democratic officials. Filmmaker Charles Curran created the content, which Pratt distributes through his social media channels.
Tuesday’s primary will send the top two vote-getters to a November general election unless one candidate secures a majority.
While officially nonpartisan, Bass represents the Democratic Party, along with progressive city council member Nithya Raman, who decided late to challenge her former political ally.
Pratt gained fame with his wife, Heidi Montag, on “The Hills” and is a registered Republican who has received approval from President Donald Trump, though not a formal endorsement.
A University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Governmental Studies poll conducted with The Los Angeles Times shows Bass, Raman and Pratt in a statistical tie, with other candidates lagging behind. The survey of 1,351 likely voters between May 19 and May 24 found no candidate with a clear advantage.
The tight race represents dangerous territory for any sitting mayor, highlighting public skepticism about her performance.
During a recent Saturday campaign stop, Bass appeared confident while greeting enthusiastic supporters in a Mid-City neighborhood, where she deposited her ballot. Despite facing potential electoral trouble, she seemed relaxed, smiling warmly while interacting with dogs and young children.
When asked about Pratt’s growing national profile, she characterized him as lacking serious political credentials.
“He is an entertainer and that’s what he’s doing is entertaining,” Bass commented.
She also raised questions about Pratt’s viability in a city where fewer than 15% of registered voters belong to the Republican Party. Trump remains deeply unpopular in California beyond his conservative supporters, capturing only 32% of Los Angeles County votes two years ago. No Republican has won the mayor’s office since 1997.
“This is Los Angeles,” Bass declared. “This is not a MAGA city.”
Diane Mitchell Henry, a registered Democrat and event planner supporting Bass, praised the mayor’s extensive government background.
“She knows the heartbeat of Los Angeles,” she explained. “I trust her.”
With 14 candidates on the ballot, a November runoff seems inevitable.
Democratic strategist Garry South predicts Bass will advance to the general election despite declining approval ratings, likely facing Pratt in the final round.
He doubts whether Pratt’s social media campaign effectively reaches actual voters, noting that the state’s most consistent voters tend to be older, white and affluent homeowners.
“Most voters are over 50, pure and simple. You are not going to grab that demographic by posting clever stuff on YouTube and Instagram,” South observed.
The race echoes the 2022 election when billionaire developer Rick Caruso campaigned on increased police funding during heightened concerns about crime and homelessness. Bass ultimately prevailed by nearly 10 percentage points.
Beyond immediate challenges of wildfire recovery and homelessness, Los Angeles struggles to define its future direction.
The entertainment industry has steadily moved production to less expensive locations. A downtown revitalization effort collapsed during pandemic lockdowns, leaving many office buildings struggling to find tenants. The city continues battling long-standing problems with basic services like street maintenance and streetlight repairs. The restaurant sector has suffered numerous high-profile closures. Trump administration immigration enforcement has created anxiety among residents. Traffic congestion remains a persistent problem.
Bass won election in 2022 by promising to address the homeless crisis and rising crime rates that gained national attention through smash-and-grab robberies. She has secured support from most Democratic leaders, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, plus the city’s influential labor organizations.
“We are not going to have this level of failure in our city for four more years,” Pratt told CNBC on Thursday. He described the city as unsafe and disgusting, saying “We pay with our money to give needles to drug addicts to overdose in front of kids.”
Raman has pledged to accelerate housing development, restore entertainment industry employment and improve street maintenance and other essential services. She believes residents are “hungry for a different future for this city — one that is affordable, functional, creative and safe,” according to a Thursday statement.
Bass dismissed concerns about her competition.
“We’re almost to the finish line,” she said after casting her ballot. “I’m feeling good.”
