Los Angeles is preparing to hold its June 2 primary, which will either decide the winner of the city’s mayoral election or establish the final two candidates to run in November.
The city’s current mayor has picked up a high-profile endorsement from her longtime ally, former Vice President Kamala Harris, as other famous names and a list of high-profile challenges impact the race to lead LA.
Kamala Harris endorses Mayor Karen Bass after decades of working together
Harris announced, “Mayor Karen Bass is the leader Los Angeles needs right now,” adding, “She has done what so many said couldn’t be done — the first-ever two-year decline in homelessness, reducing crime to levels this city hasn’t seen since the 1960s, and refusing to back down when the federal government came after our neighbors. She has my full support for re-election.”
Bass and Harris are two of the most prominent figures in California politics and have known each other for more than 20 years. During their careers, holding various public offices in California, Bass and Harris have collaborated on various issues, such as child welfare services and tackling homelessness. Both women were on the shortlist for Joe Biden’s running mate during the 2020 presidential campaign. In 2022, Harris swore in Bass at the beginning of the mayor’s current term, and Bass spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention endorsing Harris’ presidential campaign. In 2025, Bass worked with California Gov. Gavin Newsom to organize security for Harris after the Trump administration canceled Harris’ Secret Service detail.
Celebrities, policies and major events dominate the mayor’s race
Harris’ endorsement comes a few weeks before the June 2 primary for the nonpartisan LA mayor’s race. Although more than a dozen candidates are running for the office, the three frontrunners are Bass, Republican reality TV star Spencer Pratt and Democratic LA Councilmember Nithya Raman. Bass currently leads all candidates in polling data, though more than a quarter of Los Angelinos surveyed remain undecided. Pratt and Raman have each raised almost $540,000 and $530,000 in 2026, ahead of Bass’ $495,000, but the mayor has over $2 million cash on hand from fundraising efforts that began in 2024.
The three main candidates have each amassed a variety of famous and influential donors. In addition to Harris, Bass’ supporters include actor Samuel L. Jackson and producer and director J.J. Abrams. Pratt’s backers include former Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and American Idol alum and actor Katharine McPhee, while Raman has former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau and actor Mindy Kaling among her supporters.
The race comes as Bass, who has never lost an election, faces sustained criticism over her handling of issues, including homelessness, despite Bass touting that street homelessness has decreased for each of the past two years. Bass has highlighted the progress on homelessness and crime made during her tenure, as well as her track record of standing up to President Donald Trump and his harsh immigration raids. Bass has also been criticized for her administration’s response to the Pacific Palisades wildfires, in which thousands of homes — including Pratt’s residence — were destroyed.
“They let my home burn down,” Pratt said in a televised ad for his campaign. “I know the consequences of failed leadership.”
The election also comes as Los Angeles faces a number of challenges, including hosting this summer’s FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face one another in a November general election. With Bass facing significant challenges from a councilwoman and a reality star, while a large number of undecided voters still weigh their options, Harris’ endorsement could sway the outcome of the race to decide who will lead Los Angeles.