LA Mayor Karen Bass and Nithya Raman Clash Over Homelessness and Safety

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces a tight primary battle ahead of the June primary, according to a Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll commissioned by the Los Angeles Times. The poll surveyed 1,351 likely Los Angeles voters from May 19 to May 24, 2026, revealing that Mayor Bass holds 26 percent support, while progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman follows closely with 25 percent and reality TV personality Spencer Pratt stands at 22 percent.

The poll results signal deep voter dissatisfaction in the nation’s second-largest city. According to the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll reported by POLITICO, 63 percent of surveyed voters believe Los Angeles is on the “wrong track,” while only 24 percent feel the city is heading in the “right direction.”

Mark DiCamillo, Berkeley IGS poll director, noted that Mayor Bass’ support has remained flat since a March poll that also showed her at 25 percent, while her challengers have gained momentum. “Bass just standing in place while the other candidates are advancing,” DiCamillo told POLITICO, adding that the incumbent is hemorrhaging support from both the political left and right among voters who feel dissatisfied with the city’s direction.

Voter Sentiment and Candidate Standings

The latest polling data underscores a striking vulnerability for an incumbent mayor in a race that once looked like hers to control. Voter sentiment reflects heavy criticism over key municipal issues, including homelessness, public safety, and the city’s wildfire response.

Spencer Pratt, a registered Republican and personality from the reality show “The Hills,” leveraged social media and channeled public anger over the January 2025 wildfire—which destroyed his Pacific Palisades home—to build a campaign focused on crime and accountability. Pratt has raised over $3.3 million for his mayoral bid. Meanwhile, Nithya Raman, a progressive city councilmember and former ally who previously endorsed Bass’ reelection, entered the race to challenge what she characterizes as a dysfunctional city government.

Mayor Bass’ favorability ratings are underwater, with 35 percent of voters viewing her favorably and 57 percent unfavorably, according to POLITICO. In contrast, Raman holds a 40 percent favorability rating, while Pratt is viewed favorably by 25 percent of voters.

Campaign Responses and Divergent Polls

The Bass campaign pushed back against the tight primary outlook by highlighting internal survey data. Doug Herman, an adviser to the Bass campaign, stated in comments reported by POLITICO that “everyone knew this would be a close race, and it shows Karen Bass in the lead heading into Tuesday.”

An internal poll conducted by David Binder for the Bass campaign the week prior to the Berkeley IGS release showed the incumbent leading with 38 percent of the vote. That internal survey placed Raman at 24 percent and Pratt at 22 percent, presenting a more secure margin for the mayor ahead of the primary contest.