LA lost more people than any American county last year and has to choose between the woman who let it burn and Spencer Pratt

After a shaky first term framed by a devastating wildfire and an ongoing struggle with widespread homelessness, Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is looking for a return trip to city hall Tuesday while facing challenges from both ends of the political spectrum. Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former star of the reality television show “The Hills,” accuses Bass of letting the fires get out of control and failing to make enough progress on the homeless crisis. His candidacy has drawn national attention as a barometer for dissatisfaction with liberal urban governance and because of viral videos that supporters created with artificial intelligence. And Democrat Nithya Raman, a former Bass ally and progressive city council member who was elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, is campaigning on promises to reduce inequality, revive the slumping entertainment industry and build more housing. Bass, a former member of Congress and the first Black woman to serve as mayor, has lined up most of the Democratic establishment behind her, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with the city’s powerful labor unions. If Bass does not win a majority of the vote, the race will go to a runoff in November. Political observers say that’s likely because there are 14 names on the ballot, including tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and community activist Rae Huang. The race is unfolding at an unsettled time for LA. The mayor is still trying to overcome fallout from her absence when the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history ignited in a wealthy seaside neighborhood in January 2025. Bass was on a trip to Ghana as part of a presidential delegation. Pratt lost his home in the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people. And some say the recovery is happening too slowly. While statistics suggest that Bass has made headway on homelessness, makeshift encampments and rows of rusting RVs remain commonplace acro