Los Angeles

The former villain of The Hills used AI-generated videos and negative campaigning to grab attention and set himself apart from incumbent Bass, who has held the position since 2022.

FORMER REALITY TV star Spencer Pratt is trailing behind City Council member Nithya Raman in the race to make the November runoff and challenge incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Bass, 72, a former Democratic congresswoman who is fighting for her second term in office and has already advanced to the November runoff, is currently in the lead with 34.7% of the vote.

Democratic Socialist Raman, 44, is coming in second with 27.1% of the vote, after overtaking former The Hills star Pratt, who currently has 26.7% of the vote.

Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag lost their home in the California wildfires last year and this January filed a lawsuit suing the state for actions they argue led to the damage. More than 20 other homes in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood were affected by the alleged failings.

Democratic Socialist Raman, 44, is coming in second with 27.1% of the vote. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The reality star used AI-generated videos and negative campaigning to grab attention and set himself apart from incumbent Bass, who has held the position since 2022.

The couple said, after the fire, they’ve been living in a caravan on their property. TMZ subsequently reported that they were instead staying at the Hotel Bel-Air.

A candidate can win the Los Angeles mayor primary by receiving a majority of the votes, but if they don’t, then the two candidates with the most votes advance to a November.

Raman and Bass are currently the candidates most likely to make it to the runoff, but counting is ongoing. 

Voting can be slow in LA as ballots in California are mailed out to all registered voters and are valid if they are postmarked by Election Day, meaning some do not even arrive at the counting centre until several days after polls close.

Bass, 72, a former Democratic congresswoman, is currently in the lead with 34.7% of the vote. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Bass, an ex-US congresswoman and Democratic Party stalwart, had an unremarkable start to her stint at the helm of the city, and seemed headed for easy re-election.

But her flat-footed handling of the huge fires that tore through the area in January 2025 left her in trouble.

Her response to federal immigration raids in the proudly diverse city somewhat righted the ship, but she remains vulnerable.

With additional reporting from AFP.