Los Angeles is about to choose a new direction—or stick with what it knows. On June 2, voters in the nation’s second-largest city head to the polls in a mayoral primary that’s already grabbing headlines far beyond Southern California.
This isn’t your typical municipal election. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is facing an unusually high-profile challenger in reality star Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire and has turned that personal tragedy into a political platform. It’s the kind of matchup that feels simultaneously absurd and weirdly fitting for 2026 Los Angeles—celebrity, disaster recovery, and urban governance all colliding on the ballot. But Bass and Pratt aren’t alone. A crowded field of 14 candidates is competing for the job, including progressive city council member Nithya Raman, who represents a distinctly different vision for the city.
The stakes are real. Unless one candidate wins an outright majority—a tall order with this many contenders—the top two finishers will advance to a runoff in November. That means the June primary isn’t just about choosing a mayor; it’s about narrowing down the conversation about LA’s future. Will voters stick with Bass’s incumbency and continuity, or will they pivot toward a fresh face—or even an outsider who’s literally experienced the city’s recent crises firsthand?
Polls close at 8 p.m., and KCRA 3 will have full results and analysis as they come in. Whether you’re watching from Sacramento or keeping tabs on what’s happening in the state’s biggest city, this race is one worth following. Los Angeles elections ripple outward—what voters there decide today shapes conversations across California for years to come.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
