Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advanced to a November runoff Tuesday after a turbulent first term marked by the deadliest wildfire in city history, persistent homelessness and growing voter frustration over the direction of the city.
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Spencer Pratt, former reality television star, surged into second place in early returns.
The Associated Press had not yet officially called the second runoff spot Tuesday night because of California’s lengthy ballot-counting process.
Bass addressed supporters after the initial results were released, defending her record and vowing to continue fighting for reelection.
“I appreciate you for standing with me when others doubted me, because you know who I am,” Bass said. “I have devoted my entire life to serving the city that I love, where I was born, and I’m going to continue to do that all the way to victory in November.”
Pratt, best known nationally for his role on the reality show “The Hills,” quickly positioned himself as the leading anti-establishment alternative to Bass.
“We can do debates every Friday if she would like,” Pratt told reporters after the results began coming in.
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Pratt said he entered the race because he believes Los Angeles leadership has failed residents on basic quality-of-life issues.
“I got in this because as a citizen, I felt like my city failed — myself, my neighbors, my family,” Pratt said.
“Mayor Bass has allowed the city to be covered in potholes. We don’t have sidewalks. We don’t have lights,” he added.
“I’m an Angeleno who said ‘Enough is enough.’”
Pratt’s campaign gained national attention tapping into voter anger over visible urban decline across Los Angeles.
Progressive Democrat Nithya Raman, a Los Angeles city council member backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, trailed behind Bass and Pratt. Raman campaigned on reducing inequality, building housing and reviving the struggling entertainment industry.
