Karen Bass heads to LA mayoral runoff after falling short of majority

Karen Bass has won the Los Angeles mayoral primary election but will face a runoff in November as she did not secure over 50% of the vote. She will compete against either reality TV star Spencer Pratt or city council member Nithya Raman, with the latter's opponent still undetermined. Bass, the incumbent, aims to address homelessness and housing shortages, highlighting her past accomplishments and acknowledging criticisms regarding her handling of recent wildfires. Pratt, who lost his home in the wildfires, has made the fires and Bass's response central to his campaign, though he lacks political experience. Raman, a Democratic socialist, advocates for housing development and has criticized Bass's homelessness initiatives.

Former reality television star Spencer Pratt is running for mayor of Los Angeles, a city not led by a Republican in over two decades. A recent poll places Pratt in a tight race with Democratic candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman ahead of Tuesday's primary. Pratt, who gained fame on MTV's "The Hills," has leveraged social media and attention-grabbing campaign tactics, raising significantly more funds than his opponents. His campaign focuses on issues like homelessness and the city's response to recent devastating fires, where he lost his home. Despite his strong fundraising and unconventional approach, experts note the uphill battle he faces in the heavily Democratic city, with opponents criticizing his lack of experience and platform.