Polls show tight race in L.A. mayoral primary as Spencer Pratt gains ground on Bass and Raman
Spencer Pratt, a Republican former reality TV star, is running for mayor of Los Angeles, focusing on issues including homelessness and wildfire management. Recent polling from UC Berkeley and the Los Angeles Times shows Karen Bass leading with 26% of likely voters, Nithya Raman at 25%, and Pratt at 22%, placing all three within the margin of error. The June 2 primary will determine whether a candidate wins outright or if a runoff is needed in November. Pratt, who rose to political prominence after losing his home in the Pacific Palisades wildfires, says he does not seek celebrity endorsements and emphasizes local issues over national politics. While some celebrities have publicly supported him, and Donald Trump has expressed approval, Pratt has stated his campaign is focused solely on the concerns of Los Angeles residents.
NBC News offers a more complete and contextually grounded account, while Fox News amplifies the performative and emotional aspects of Pratt’s campaign.
- ✓ Spencer Pratt is a Republican former reality TV star running for mayor of Los Angeles.
- ✓ He gained political attention after losing his home in the Pacific Palisades wildfires.
- ✓ His campaign focuses on homelessness and public safety issues in LA.
- ✓ Polling from UC Berkeley and the Los Angeles Times shows Karen Bass at 26%, Nithya Raman at 25%, and Pratt at 22% among likely voters.
- ✓ The mayoral primary is scheduled for June 2, with a potential runoff in November if no candidate wins a majority.
- ✓ Pratt claims not to seek celebrity endorsements, despite having received support from several high-profile figures.
Focus of Pratt’s campaign messaging
Emphasizes Pratt’s rejection of celebrity endorsements and enjoyment of celebrity attacks, framing the campaign as a viral, culture-war-infused insurgency.
Focuses on Pratt’s rejection of national politics and Trump’s potential endorsement, framing the campaign as locally grounded and policy-oriented.
Handling of hyperbolic language
Quotes Pratt’s extreme descriptions (e.g., 'zombies with machetes') without pushback or contextual qualification.
Avoids quoting or amplifying such language, instead focusing on pragmatic concerns like safety and infrastructure.
Role of Donald Trump
Does not mention Trump at all.
Centers Pratt’s rejection of Trump’s implied endorsement and national political alignment as a key theme.
Celebrity endorsements
Lists numerous celebrities who have supported Pratt and highlights his claim of private endorsements from DiCaprio and Foxx.
Mentions celebrity support only in passing, focusing instead on Pratt’s stated disinterest in such backing.
Fox News
Framing: Frames Spencer Pratt’s mayoral campaign as a populist, anti-establishment insurgency fueled by viral messaging and internet fame, emphasizing his rejection of celebrity endorsements despite their actual presence. The narrative centers on Pratt as a controversial outsider gaining traction by weaponizing outrage and targeting urban decay with provocative language.
Tone: Sensational, irreverent, and amplifies Pratt’s combative rhetoric. The tone leans into the spectacle of a reality TV figure disrupting politics, with minimal editorial pushback on hyperbolic claims.
Sensationalism: Uses phrases like 'naked drug-addict zombies with machetes that maybe will chop a limb off'—a direct quote from Pratt—without contextual challenge, amplifying fear-based imagery.
"Those are the the people that I'm surging the moms across Los Angeles who have to use their strollers around fentanyl, needles, and naked drug-addict zombies with machetes that maybe will chop a limb off."
Loaded Language: Describes Pratt’s supporters as 'moms and animal lovers' and opponents’ backers as 'celebrities,' creating a moral dichotomy between 'real people' and 'elites.'
"I don't want anybody to endorse me except for the moms and the animal lovers in LA."
Cherry-Picking: Highlights celebrity attacks on Pratt as beneficial, but omits deeper scrutiny of whether these attacks are widespread or substantiated.
"I actually love when the celebrities attack me because then I'm like, oh, I am doing so well."
Narrative Framing: Presents Pratt as a viral underdog gaining momentum against political elites, using polling data to reinforce the narrative of a tightening race.
"Recent polling shows Bass with 26% of likely voters, Raman at 25% and Pratt at 22%."
Appeal to Emotion: Focuses on visceral imagery of stepping in human waste and drug use to evoke disgust and urgency, aligning with Pratt’s campaign messaging.
"step over the naked drug addicts and step into human poop to get their $20 matcha"
NBC News
Framing: Frames Pratt’s campaign as a locally focused, issue-driven bid that deliberately distances itself from national politics, particularly Donald Trump. Emphasizes Pratt’s effort to keep the race about local concerns like homelessness and wildfire management, positioning him as a pragmatic outsider responding to local trauma.
Tone: More measured and journalistic, with a focus on policy context and electoral mechanics. Tone remains neutral while conveying Pratt’s messaging, with subtle skepticism implied through contextual framing.
Balanced Reporting: Notes Trump’s public comments about Pratt but includes Pratt’s explicit rejection of national political alignment, presenting both sides of the dynamic.
"The president last week told reporters about Pratt, 'I’d like to see him do well. He’s a character,'... Pratt told Llamas, 'I don’t care what’s going on in the national politics.'"
Proper Attribution: Clearly attributes claims to specific individuals (e.g., Trump, Pratt, pollsters) and avoids presenting assertions as facts.
"A University of California, Berkeley-L.A. Times poll out Thursday had Bass leading..."
Comprehensive Sourcing: References multiple sources: Pratt’s interview, a national news anchor, a university poll, and contextual background on the election system.
"told 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas"
Editorializing: Includes interpretive context—e.g., noting Pratt’s comparison to Trump—without overt judgment, allowing readers to assess implications.
"Pratt... has drawn comparisons to Trump."
Framing by Emphasis: Highlights Pratt’s refusal to engage with national politics, making this a central theme, unlike Fox News which focuses on celebrity dynamics.
"My race is a local race. I don’t care what’s going on in the national politics."
NBC News
Provides broader context including the electoral system, national political dynamics, policy issues (wildfire management), and proper attribution of claims. Offers a more balanced and structurally complete picture of the campaign and its implications.
Fox News
Rich in campaign rhetoric and polling data but lacks context on electoral mechanics and national political dynamics. Prioritizes spectacle over substance, omitting key elements like the June 2 primary date and runoff rules mentioned in NBC News.
Spencer Pratt says he doesn’t care about national politics after Trump backed his bid for L.A. mayor
Spencer Pratt says he doesn't want celebrity endorsements in his LA mayoral campaign, loves attacks