Democrat Karen Bass claims early win in LA mayoral race over reality TV star Spencer Pratt

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has advanced to a November run-off in her bid for re-election.

After a shaky first term marked by the most destructive wildfire in city history, the Democrat surpassed a large field of contenders to qualify for the second round of voting.

Bass and Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former star of the reality television show The Hills, were leading in early returns.

According to reports, Ms Bass was leading with about 36.6 per cent of the vote. Pratt was in second with 29.8 per cent, while Democrat Nithya Raman held 20.5 per cent.

“Tomorrow begins the second half of this journey,” Ms Bass said, acknowledging that her time in office has been bumpy but pointed to reductions in homelessness and a historically low homicide rate in the nation’s second most populous city.

She is a former member of Congress and the first Black woman to serve as mayor.

After a tough first term framed by a devastating wildfire and an ongoing struggle with widespread homelessness, Ms Bass was fighting for a return trip to city hall Tuesday against challengers from both ends of the political spectrum.

“I appreciate you for standing with me when others doubted me, because you know who I am,” she told supporters. “I have devoted my entire life to serving the city that I love, where I was born, and I’m going to continue to do that all the way to victory in November.”

Mr Pratt accuses Ms Bass of letting the fires get out of control and failing to make enough progress on the homeless crisis.

Raman, a former Bass ally and progressive city council member elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America. A Democrat, Raman has campaigned on promises to reduce inequality, revive the slumping entertainment industry and build more housing.

If no one wins a majority of more than 50 per cent, the race will go to a run-off in November. Political observers said that would be likely with 14 names on the ballot, including tech entrepreneur Adam Miller and community activist Rae Huang.

Mr Pratt’s candidacy drew national attention as a barometer for dissatisfaction with liberal urban governance and because of viral videos that supporters created with artificial intelligence.

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, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with the city’s powerful labor unions.

Candidates made a rush of last-minute appeals to voters, urging them to cast ballots in an election that appeared headed for a light turnout. Ms Bass made a swing through the heavily Hispanic Boyle Heights neighbourhood, where she recalled Federal immigration raids in which she said Mr Pratt and Ms Raman were “nowhere to be found.”

Mr Pratt said the contest had become a two-person race between him and Bass and said a vote for either Raman or Miller would be wasted.

Votes were being also counted in California’s gubernatorial primary Tuesday, with three men locked in a tight race for two run-off spots.

The state’s so-called “jungle primary” pits all comers in one mega-poll. The top two vote-getters — regardless of party — advance to the November general election to replace Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.

Xavier Becerra, a career politician who served as former president Joe Biden’s health secretary, was in the box seat as the early numbers rolled in.