Spencer Pratt on track to face Mayor Karen Bass in November LA runoff

Reality television star Spencer Pratt appears on track to clear a key hurdle in Los Angeles’ mayoral race as he attempts to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November.

Bass, who has governed the city since 2022 during a tumultuous period shaken by its response to the fires, fell into a runoff after failing to win a majority of the votes in Tuesday’s primary election. Since no candidate exceeds the 50% threshold, the top two candidates will face each other in the second round of elections to be held in November.

The anticipated runoff is Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif. and a symbolic coup for Bass, who is supported by former Vice President Kamala Harris and has served in a series of Democratic elected offices in California for decades.

Pratt, who first became known as a candidate for MTV’s reality show “The Hills,” was running in second place as of Wednesday morning.

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“Frankly, God asked me for five more months to expose our mayor’s failures,” Pratt told reporters Tuesday evening when the returns came.

Pratt repeatedly addressed Bass on issues that have long plagued the city, including fire suppression, street homelessness and crime. The rebel candidate holds Bass personally responsible for the devastating wildfires that destroyed more than 18,000 structures in the city, including his home in Pacific Palisades.

Pratt’s rise appears to sideline Bass’ former ally, Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, who is challenging the incumbent from the left and was once seen as a threat to a second term. Raman is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and has advocated steering the city in a more progressive direction.

Raman has yet to concede the match, although he is well behind Bass and Pratt as of Wednesday morning.

Pratt, a registered Republican, will face an uphill battle to defeat Bass in November if he advances to a runoff election.

Although Los Angeles’ mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, less than 20 percent of voters in the Democratic-dominated city identify with the GOP.

Media star and independent candidate Spencer Pratt (left) is seen with LA mayor Karen Bass, right. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who represents a San Diego-based seat, told Fox News Digital that Pratt has gained a following in the mayoral contest due to widespread voter discontent with Bass’ leadership.

“Karen Bass is lighting a fire among ardent historic Democratic voters because she is so ineffective,” Issa said in an interview. “And every time he opens his mouth, he tells more of the same to people who see his streets that are both crime-ridden and actually… ineffectively run.”

Bass, by contrast, argues that his leadership is steering Los Angeles in the right direction.

“Los Angeles is at a crossroads. After decades of rising homelessness, underbuilt housing, and a diminished police force, it is Mayor Karen Bass who has finally taken action to change the way City Hall operates,” Bass’ website reads.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman appears likely to finish third, which would keep her out of the November runoff elections. (Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

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He also claims, “Homelessness is down, more housing is being built, and the LAPD is hiring new officers.”

Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno contributed reporting.