Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reacts during a campaign event at Pann’s Restaurant ahead of the primary election in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 1, 2026. REUTERS/Daniel Cole
(Los Angeles, California) – Polls are open in Los Angeles, where Mayor Karen Bass is trying to survive a volatile primary against Councilmember Nithya Raman and former reality television figure Spencer Pratt. The race has become a national curiosity because Pratt turned what looked like a conventional reelection fight into a competitive three-way contest.
Bass is defending her record on homelessness, wildfire response and public safety, while Raman is running to her left on housing and inequality. Pratt is attacking City Hall from the outside, arguing that Los Angeles needs a sharp break from its current political class.
If no candidate wins a majority, the top two finishers advance to a November runoff. That makes Tuesday less like a final verdict and more like a test of who has enough momentum to own the next five months of the campaign.
