Reality TV star Spencer Pratt is officially out of the Los Angeles mayoral race as his Democratic challengers secure their spots in the November runoff.
Pratt launched his ambitious campaign on the one-year anniversary of the devastating Palisades fire in January, ultimately securing roughly 26% of the vote, according to NBC News. Democratic incumbent Karen Bass secured her spot in the runoff on primary election night, coming in at 34.3%, and progressive councilwoman Nithya Raman surged in the 11th hour to second place with 28.5%. (RELATED: Gavin Newsom’s Newest Election Law Could Open The Door To Major Voter Fraud)
While it’s typical for California to take days, and sometimes weeks, to finalize election results due to the prevalence of mail-in ballots, Raman’s sudden surge raised questions for many onlookers, including President Donald Trump.
“They’re dropping fast because it’s a rigged election…” Trump said of Republicans’ performance in the recent California elections. “They’re cheating on the election. All I have to do is look.”
“Do you think it’s appropriate that they have an election and five days later they’re nowhere close to picking a winner?” Trump added, in an interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker. “They’re crooked, just like you’re crooked.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed bills to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles during a press conference at Willard Elementary School in Pasadena, California, January 23, 2025. Newsom will sign legislation directing $2.5 billion in relief to support response and recovery efforts for Los Angeles. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Pratt enjoyed a roughly eight-point lead over Raman on election night, so much so that the councilwoman delivered a teary-eyed quasi-concession speech just hours after the polls closed. Nearly a week later, Raman enjoyed over a six-point surge while Pratt fell behind by several points. Notably, Bass’ vote share barely shifted as the mail-in ballots were being counted. (RELATED: California Faces Election Fraud Investigations Amid Major Vote Count Delays)
Pratt himself joked about the narrow margins and the abrupt electoral shift over the weekend, hinting at a recent case of election fraud.
“43,000, huh?” Pratt asked, referring to the swing in favor of Raman. “Where have I seen that number before…?”
Pratt’s post displayed a screenshot noting that roughly 43,700 people “experienced homelessness” on any given night in Los Angeles.
“Probably nothing,” Pratt added.
The scenario Pratt outlined is not totally unheard of in California. Just weeks earlier, a California woman named Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong agreed to a plea deal after she was charged with paying people to register to vote. This included homeless people she encountered on Skid Row, according to the Department of Justice.