UCLA Poll Finds LA Mayor Race 'Wide Open' with 40% Undecided

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads the field, but many voters remain unsure just two months before the primary.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:41pm

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A vibrant, fragmented painting of an urban skyline in shades of blue, purple, and orange, with overlapping geometric shapes and lines conveying the dynamic, unsettled nature of the Los Angeles mayoral election.The wide-open LA mayoral race reflects the city's political uncertainty as voters weigh their options ahead of the June primary.Los Angeles Today

A new UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs poll shows the Los Angeles mayoral race is wide open, with 40% of likely voters still undecided. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads the field with 25% support, followed by reality TV personality Spencer Pratt at 11% and City Councilmember Nithya Raman at 9%. Housing advocate Rae Chen Huang and nonprofit executive Adam Miller each drew 3%, while 9% said they would support another candidate. If no candidate wins a majority in the June 2 primary, the top two finishers will advance to a November runoff.

Why it matters

The high level of undecided voters this close to the primary election is unusual for an LA mayoral race, indicating the contest is still wide open. The winner will lead the nation's second-largest city at a critical time, facing challenges such as homelessness, public safety, and economic recovery from the pandemic.

The details

The poll surveyed 813 likely LA voters between March 15 and March 29, with a margin of error of 4%. It showed strong support for Bass among African American voters at 53%, while undecided voters outpaced support for any single candidate among white, Latino, and Asian and Pacific Islander voters. By age, Bass received 31% support among voters 65 and older, compared to 36% undecided. For voters 40-64, Bass had 23% support while her top opponents collectively drew 30%. And among 18-39 year olds, Bass had 21% support compared to 29% combined for her leading challengers.

  • The poll was conducted between March 15 and March 29, 2026.
  • The Los Angeles mayoral primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026.

The players

Karen Bass

The incumbent Mayor of Los Angeles, leading the field with 25% support in the poll.

Spencer Pratt

A reality television personality, polling at 11% support.

Nithya Raman

A Los Angeles City Councilmember, polling at 9% support.

Rae Chen Huang

A housing advocate, polling at 3% support.

Adam Miller

A nonprofit executive, polling at 3% support.

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What they’re saying

“It is unusual for 40% of likely voters to be unsure of their choice just two months before an L.A. mayoralty election.”

— Zev Yaroslavsky, Director of the Los Angeles Initiative at UCLA Luskin

What’s next

If no candidate wins a majority in the June 2 primary, the top two finishers will advance to a November runoff election.

The takeaway

The high level of undecided voters in the LA mayoral race this close to the primary indicates an open contest, with the eventual winner facing major challenges such as homelessness, public safety, and economic recovery. The race is likely to be decided in a November runoff between the top two finishers from the June primary.