Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt raised far more in contributions than any other candidate in the latest reporting period, according to the latest campaign finance filings.
Pratt raised about $2.72 million between April 19 and May 16, while incumbent mayor Karen Bass raised about $283,000 during the same period, according to documents filed with the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman reported raising about $400,000 during the same period. That included a $60,000 loan from Raman to her campaign, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Overall, Pratt has reported a total of $3.26 million in contributions through May 16, narrowly surpassing Bass, who has reported $3.13 million. Raman reported a total of more than $931,000 in contributions.
Left: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on May 8, 2026. Right: Spencer Pratt speaks during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” at Fox News headquarters on January 28, 2026 in New York.
It comes as Pratt, a reality television star who entered the race after losing his home in the deadly Palisades Fire, has upended the contest with a campaign fueled by viral videos. He has attacked Bass over her handling of the fire and other issues including public safety and homelessness. Early voting is underway ahead of the June 2 election.
Pratt’s fundraising in recent weeks further indicates he has a good chance of winning enough votes to proceed to a November runoff, though he faces long odds in a heavily Democratic city that hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since 1997. Los Angeles’ mayoral election is nonpartisan, but Pratt is a registered Republican who has been backed by President Donald Trump.
Polls and prediction markets show Bass remains the favorite in the race, though she doesn’t appear to be leading by enough to avoid a runoff. Pratt and Raman are locked in a tight race for second place, according to polls.
What The Polls Say
A poll from Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics showed 30 percent support for Bass, up from 20 percent in March, while 22 percent are backing Pratt, up from 10 percent in March. Raman came in third with 19 percent of support. The poll also found the number of undecided respondents had dropped dramatically, from 51 percent in March to 16 percent in May.
The poll was conducted between May 9 and 10—a week after Bass, Pratt and Raman faced off in a mayoral debate—among 1,000 likely primary voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
A poll by Tavern Research also found Bass leading the field with 22 percent support, followed by Pratt at 18 percent and Raman at 16 percent. That poll found 46 percent were undecided on the initial ballot, but after a follow-up, that number dropped to 29 percent.
The poll surveyed 531 likely Los Angeles primary voters online between May 1 and 4, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 6.1 percent.
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Primary Election for Los Angeles Mayor: Poll Trend
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What the Prediction Markets Show
Prediction markets are trading platforms where prices, expressed as percentage chances, reflect estimates of an outcome’s likelihood, often aggregating information faster than polls but vulnerable to bias, low liquidity and speculative swings.
Bass’ odds have increased In recent days, while Pratt and Raman have seen declines.
As of early Monday, Bass was trading at 71 percent, up from about 56 percent a week ago. Pratt was trading at 22 percent, down from 24 percent a week ago, while Raman was at about 10 percent, down from 16 percent a week ago.
Kalshi, a U.S.-regulated exchange, showed similar numbers. As of Monday morning, Bass was priced at 67 percent. Pratt at 27 percent and Raman at about 7 percent.
What Happens Next
The primary election is scheduled for June 2. If no candidates wins a majority, the top two vote-getters will face off in a November 3 election.
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