The results are still rolling in, but Mayor Karen Bass can claim a win, and reality television star Spencer Pratt appears to be next in the runoff for Los Angeles mayor. The two appear to be on track to face off in the November election, based on preliminary results.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman trails in the race, which will send the top two to the general election.
It’s rare for an incumbent to be pushed in a runoff on a reelection bid. Still, the results look to be a step toward victory for Bass and Pratt — and their respective real estate donors. In Bass’ case that includes Richard Ziman, Ardie Tavangarian, the California Apartment Association’s Political Action Committee and more. Pratt’s industry backers include Compass’ Tracy Tutor, Newmark’s Jay Luchs, Westside Estate Agency’s Kurt Rappaport and multifamily developer and investor Geoff Palmer.
Pratt jumped in the race because his Pacific Palisades home burned down — which he blames on Bass — so the battle ahead is anticipated to be unusually contentious. Pratt’s viral campaigning has called the incumbent, “Karen Basura,” and posted an animation of him wheeling Bass out in a dumpster to the song “Spencer, Saca La Bassura.”
Bass has bashed Pratt, too, calling him a “reality star villain.”
Despite their vast differences in style, the two rivals have made similar proposals where Measure ULA, the so-called mansion tax, is concerned — both have said that victims of last year’s wildfires who are rebuilding should have their homes exempt from the tax. Because Los Angeles industry veterans have blamed the tax for “a broken trust with Wall Street,” and claim it “redlined” the city, it seems there will be room for positions to morph between now and November.
During a May debate, the hopefuls sparred over downtown Los Angeles in particular. Pratt gave a spiel on how unsafe it has become, saying Raman doesn’t care about safety and contending Bass only pretends to care. The mayor claimed her office’s strategy of collaborating with business associations and fast-tracking office conversions is working.
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