Spencer Pratt Trails Karen Bass in Los Angeles Mayoral Race Poll

The former reality TV star faces an uphill battle against the incumbent mayor in the nonpartisan election.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:11pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting of a city skyline with skyscrapers and palm trees in overlapping, geometric waves of color, conveying the energy and uncertainty of the Los Angeles mayoral race.The Los Angeles mayoral race is heating up, with the incumbent mayor facing a diverse field of challengers vying to lead the city.Los Angeles Today

A new poll shows Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass leading her challenger, former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, in the race to lead the city. However, a significant number of voters remain undecided, leaving the outcome uncertain as the top-two primary approaches.

Why it matters

The Los Angeles mayoral race is a high-profile contest, with Bass, a Democrat, facing several challengers from both parties who are positioning themselves as more progressive alternatives. The nonpartisan election system means all candidates will appear on the same ballot, and if no one wins a majority, there will be a runoff between the top two vote-getters.

The details

The poll, conducted by UCLA and FM3 from March 15-29 among 813 likely voters, showed Bass receiving 25% support, compared to 11% for Pratt. Other candidates, including City Councilmember Nithya Raman and community organizer Rae Huang, also received single-digit support. However, 40% of respondents were still undecided, indicating the race remains wide open.

  • The top-two primary election will be held on June 2.
  • If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election will be held on November 3.

The players

Karen Bass

The incumbent Democratic mayor of Los Angeles, first elected in 2022.

Spencer Pratt

A Republican reality television star who is the leading GOP candidate in the race.

Nithya Raman

A current city councilmember and progressive candidate in the race.

Rae Huang

A community organizer and progressive candidate in the race.

Adam Miller

An entrepreneur and candidate in the race.

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What they’re saying

“These polls reflect the frustrations that led me to run for Mayor, that things are not going well here in LA. Although I've only been in the race for less than two months, voters are responding to our campaign to make LA more affordable, and to govern with urgency and accountability.”

— Nithya Raman, Progressive candidate

“We're going to expose the system. We're going into every dark corner of L.A. politics and disinfecting the city with our light.”

— Spencer Pratt

“The city I've been in my whole life, the city that I love, I feel we have accomplished a lot, but we're not done. Until every Palisadian is back home. I will not rest until L.A. is affordable, until one paycheck is enough and families don't have to double up or triple up. And I will not rest until there are no Angelenos on our streets.”

— Karen Bass

What’s next

The top-two primary election will be held on June 2. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff election will be held on November 3.

The takeaway

The Los Angeles mayoral race is shaping up to be a closely watched contest, with the incumbent mayor facing a diverse field of challengers. The large number of undecided voters suggests the outcome remains uncertain, and the race could come down to a runoff between the top two finishers.