It is imminent that the race for mayor of Los Angeles will have to be defined in a second round, on November 3, for which the current incumbent, Karen Bass, and Republican Spencer Pratt, one of her strongest critics for the city's handling of the tragic Palisades fire in January 2025, are emerging.

Bass led his opponents with 36.6% of the total votes compared to Pratt's 29.8% after 47.3% of the ballots were counted. According to projections, the 72-year-old mayor secured her place in the runoff. Councilwoman Nythia Raman was trailing in third place with 20.5%.

“Four more years! Four more years!” shouted hundreds of Bass supporters gathered at The Lines hotel in the Wilshire area.

By not having more than 50% of the votes in the primary elections, Bass will have to redouble efforts for her re-election, since the support that led her to the mayor's office in 2022 was fragmented this time between the three best positioned candidates: her, Pratt, and Raman, in addition to 11 other candidates.

“We are going to fight for every Angeleno,” Bass declared on the night of his partial “victory” that concluded with mariachi music.

“We will not allow ICE or anyone to divide us,” he said in relation to the occupation force of masked federal agents who brutalized the immigrant community in June 2025 as a result of the massive raids promised by President Donald Trump.

James Hahn, first mayor to lose his position

It has been 21 years since a sitting mayor faced a runoff after serving his first term.

In 2005, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa defeated Mayor James Hahn, who was seeking reelection to a second term.

Hahn became the first sitting mayor to lose re-election in 32 years, since Sam Yorty lost to Tom Bradley in the 1973 mayoral election.

Bass, who was elected in 2022 after defeating billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso, has said she deserves another four-year term to continue the progress made under her administration.

However, it has been beset by frustration over the twin crises of homelessness, dirty streets and broken street lighting, as well as what critics - such as Pratt - described as a botched response to the Palisades fire in January 2025.

In the city of Los Angeles, there are an estimated 43,695 homeless people. This figure comes from the final revised results of the 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).

The count indicated a 3.4% decrease in the city's homeless population compared to the previous year. A breakdown of the city's homeless population details the following: Housed: 16,723 people (residing in temporary housing, shelters or transitional programs). Without shelter: 26,972 people (living on the streets, in tents or in vehicles).

The mayor has championed the implementation of policies that reduced the number of homeless people on the streets by nearly 18%, accelerated the construction of thousands of affordable housing units, and reduced crime rates to a level not seen since the 1960s. The exact number of people in permanent housing is unknown.

“Homelessness has decreased for the first time in many years,” Bass stated. "42,000 units of affordable housing, with more to come. Crime is at its lowest level in 60 years. So we have a lot to look forward to in our city."

The current president has received the support of various labor, business and community organizations, as well as prominent Democratic politicians, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

They are on your heels

However, recent polls showed that Pratt and Raman pose a significant threat to Bass's re-election bid.

During a stop in Mar Vista, where she invited people to vote, Councilwoman Raman stated: “What I sense from voters is that they are dissatisfied with the direction Los Angeles is taking right now; therefore, I present to you a vision for the city that is more hopeful, more joyful and ambitious,” she stated. She added that she believes that more should be demanded of city authorities.

“I have delivered for the constituents of my district and now I want to deliver for the entire city,” he said.

While Bass has the advantage, many residents have criticized her for her absence at the start of the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire, which destroyed thousands of structures and claimed the lives of 12 people.

On January 7, 2025, the day the fire broke out, Bass was in Ghana attending the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama in Accra, as part of a US delegation.

Karen Bass has also come under fire for negotiating a significant pay raise for the city's police union, increasing starting salaries, raises

periodic and retention bonuses. Municipal workers represented by their respective unions also received a substantial pay increase.

Pratt, backed by Trump

The mayor has pointed out that Spencer Pratt lacks political experience. Pratt is a registered Republican, although he has not identified himself as a supporter of the MAGA movement. In May, President Donald Trump expressed his support for Pratt, although he stopped short of giving him formal and explicit support.

In fact, Pratt dismissed a possible endorsement from President Trump, stating that national politics have no place in local elections.

"I don't need anyone's support other than mothers. They are the ones who are going to choose me," the former reality show star told NBC News. "My race is a local race. I don't care what happens in national politics or in other states. I'm running for local office."

Raman, for his part, has come under fire from Bass and Pratt. Raman was supported by the Democratic Socialists (DSA-LA) of the United States. However, the group did not officially endorse her for mayor, although the DSA-LA has recommended her to its members. The DSA-LA was divided between councilwoman and mayoral candidate Rae Chen Huang; However, the group ultimately decided not to explicitly endorse either candidate.

The councilwoman has criticized Bass' flagship program, “Inside Safe,” as too expensive. Raman has stated that he will address homelessness through a data-driven approach, focusing on strengthening time-limited housing subsidies as a means to relocate homeless people to permanent housing,