2026 Election Results: Bass leads as Pratt holds second place in early LA mayoral returns

Early returns from the Los Angeles mayoral primary on Tuesday showed Mayor Karen Bass leading with 36.54% of the vote, followed by challenger Spencer Pratt at 30.12%. Councilmember Nithya Raman placed third with 20.18%, while Adam Miller secured 4.40%. Since no candidate surpassed 50%, the top two—Bass and Pratt—will advance to a November 3 runoff. Bass, first elected in 2022, campaigned on stability and progress, citing declines in street homelessness and crime, as well as recovery efforts after the January 2025 Palisades fire. She received endorsements from Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Adam Schiff, and major labor groups. Critics, however, accused her of failing to address homelessness, affordability, and public safety effectively. Raman, previously a Bass supporter, now positions herself as a progressive challenger, advocating for housing affordability, tenant protections, and government reform. She criticized Bass’s homelessness policies, including the Inside Safe program, as too costly and incremental. Pratt, a former reality TV star whose family lost their home in the Palisades fire, entered the race as an outsider. He called for expanded police staffing, mandatory addiction treatment for homeless individuals, and greater government accountability, framing himself as a critic of both Bass and Raman’s establishment approach. The race also included tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and housing advocate Rae Huang, along with nine other candidates. The winner will face challenges like budget pressures, wildfire recovery, and preparations for the 2028 Olympics while addressing homelessness and public safety.