If no candidate receives a majority in the June 2 primary, the top two finishers will advance to a November 3 runoff.

The Race for Mayor of Los Angeles: A Crowded Field

The race for Mayor of Los Angeles has drawn a crowded field of candidates ahead of the June 2 nonpartisan primary. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is seeking reelection against several challengers, including City Councilmember Nithya Raman, reality television personality Spencer Pratt, tech entrepreneur Adam Miller, community organizer Rae Huang, and approximately 40 other candidates.

Key Candidates

Incumbent Karen Bass

Bass, who took office in 2022, has campaigned on achievements including a reported decrease in homicides, a 17.5% reduction in street homelessness, and accelerated affordable housing approvals. Her administration has also focused on expedited rebuilding permits in areas affected by the Palisades Fire.

Bass has faced criticism regarding her response to the fire, including being out of the country when it began, and allegations regarding the editing of an after-action report. She has denied those allegations. Her campaign anticipates a November runoff.

City Councilmember Nithya Raman

Raman formally entered the race hours before the filing deadline, challenging Bass after previously endorsing her reelection. Raman has criticized the city’s effectiveness on housing costs, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness. She championed tenant protections and voted against police raises while on the City Council.

Raman, elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, will retain her council seat if she loses the mayoral race, as she is not up for reelection until 2028.

Reality TV Personality Spencer Pratt

Pratt, a registered Republican, announced his candidacy on January 7, the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire, in which he and his wife Heidi Montag lost their home. He has no prior political experience and has criticized Mayor Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom for their handling of the fire.

"My campaign will focus on public safety, homelessness, and addressing what I describe as systemic issues in Los Angeles politics."

Pratt has released campaign ads focusing on homelessness.

Other Candidates

• Adam Miller: A Democratic tech entrepreneur emphasizing city management reforms, running as a self-funding candidate.
• Rae Huang: A Democratic socialist community organizer advocating for public housing and reduced policing.
• Asaad Alnajjar: An employee of the Bureau of Street Lighting and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council member.

Candidates Who Withdrew or Opted Not to Run

Several potential candidates considered challenging Bass before ultimately deciding against it:

• Rick Caruso: The billionaire developer and 2022 mayoral candidate announced he would not run for mayor or governor, citing family considerations. He will continue his nonprofit work with Steadfast LA, which assists fire recovery efforts.
• Lindsey Horvath: The Los Angeles County Supervisor announced she would not seek the mayor’s office, opting to remain in her current role. Horvath had previously criticized Bass’s administration on homelessness and fire response.
• Austin Beutner: The former Los Angeles schools superintendent withdrew from the race, citing a family loss.

Key Issues in the Campaign

Palisades Fire Response

Multiple candidates have criticized Bass’s handling of the Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, and resulted in 31 fatalities and the destruction of over 16,000 homes and businesses. Pratt has stated Bass was responsible for insufficient water supply and vehicle maintenance. Bass noted the Santa Ynez reservoir was for drinking water, not firefighting, and stated that the fire chief sent 1,000 firefighters home.

Bass ousted the fire chief after the fire; the chief later sued the city for retaliation. An after-action report, which analysts said was edited to minimize department failures, has been a point of contention.

Homelessness

Bass highlighted her Inside Safe program, reporting a 17.5% reduction in street homelessness. Raman proposed clearing half of homeless encampments before the 2028 Olympics and criticized spending on motel rooms. Pratt argued many homeless individuals do not want shelter and advocated for clearing streets of individuals with drug addictions.

Public Safety and Policing

All three major candidates agreed public safety is the mayor’s top priority. Pratt supported increasing LAPD staffing to 12,500 officers. Bass stated she negotiated police raises to slow attrition. Raman opposed the raises and favored maintaining current staffing levels.

Film Industry

Pratt criticized Bass and Raman for the decline of Hollywood and advocated for post-production tax credits. Raman, whose husband is a writer, called for a cap-free tax credit guaranteed for multiple years.

Debate Schedule and Primary Election

The candidates participated in a televised debate on Wednesday, hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52, focusing on the Palisades fire, police hiring, and homelessness. A second televised forum is scheduled for May 13, hosted by the Pat Brown Institute and League of Women Voters, airing on Fox11. Bass, Raman, Huang, and Miller are expected to participate; Pratt has reported a scheduling conflict.

The primary election will be held on June 2. Polls show Bass leading, with Pratt and Raman competing for second place.