The Los Angeles mayor’s race is tightening, and a new Emerson College poll shows political outsider Spencer Pratt gaining traction against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
According to reporting on the Emerson survey, Bass leads the field with 30 percent, while Pratt has climbed into second place at 22 percent. Councilmember Nithya Raman follows at 19 percent. The June 2 primary is nonpartisan, and unless one candidate wins a majority, the top two finishers advance to a November 3 runoff.
Pratt’s momentum accelerated after last week’s televised debate, where he pressed Bass and Raman on public safety, homelessness, affordability, and wildfire response. Some online post-debate polling showed Pratt drawing overwhelming viewer support, though those instant surveys are not the same as scientific polling.
The race has also become a test of outsider politics in one of America’s most troubled big cities. Pratt, best known from reality television, entered the campaign after losing his home in the 2025 Palisades fires and has centered his message on crime, homelessness, and city competence. Recent fundraising events and celebrity support suggest his campaign is being taken more seriously than many expected.
Bass remains the frontrunner, but her lead is not large enough to avoid a runoff based on current polling. Raman’s presence further complicates the field, especially among progressive voters.
For voters watching Los Angeles, the facts are clear: an incumbent mayor once seen as secure now faces a real challenge from a viral outsider campaign. Whether Pratt’s online momentum becomes ballot-box support will be decided soon.
