Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has withdrawn from a pivotal mayoral candidate forum set for May 13 on FOX 11, just days after Spencer Pratt dominated a televised debate against her and City Councilmember Nithya Raman.
Details of the Withdrawal
Organizers from the League of Women Voters of Greater Los Angeles and the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs expressed disappointment over Bass’s decision. They released a statement highlighting the forum’s role in allowing voters to hear directly from candidates addressing the city’s major challenges. Bass had confirmed her participation via a signed form on April 22.
The event invited five candidates: Bass, Raman, businessman Adam Miller, and community advocate Rae Huang. Pratt had already declined due to a scheduling conflict.
Bass Campaign’s Explanation
A Bass campaign spokesperson stated that the mayor will travel to Sacramento on May 13 to advocate for funding on housing, homelessness, Palisades Fire recovery, and partnerships for the Olympics and World Cup. The spokesperson added, ‘People of LA saw twice last week that Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt are not up to the job as Mayor. So it’s time to move past debates.’
Pratt’s Strong Debate Performance
In Wednesday’s debate, Pratt received praise for challenging Bass’s policies. An NBC LA poll showed about 90 percent of viewers declaring him the winner over Bass and Raman, a Democratic Socialists of America member.
Pratt remarked, ‘All the unions support Mayor Bass. You think it’s easier to run against the incumbent mayor with all the unions, or a random city councilmember who has been a failure for six years?’ He prefers facing Raman alone, noting, ‘I would much rather face Raman alone in the election without Bass.’
Pratt frequently criticizes Bass’s response to the January wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes in Southern California, including his $3.8 million property.
Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Mike Bonin, former LA City Councilmember and current Pat Brown Institute affiliate, revealed that Bass’s team initially confirmed availability for May 13, prompting invitations to challengers on April 20. The withdrawal occurred Thursday, with her consultant citing debates against main opponents as sufficient.
Bonin noted, ‘We are disappointed that voters will be denied the opportunity to see the Mayor side-by-side with her main opponents in a televised forum just as voters are beginning to really pay attention to the race.’
Campaign Context and Election Outlook
This forum marks the final debate before the June 2 primary, with a potential runoff on November 3 if no candidate exceeds 50 percent.
Pratt, known from MTV’s ‘The Hills’ where he met wife Heidi Montag, highlights LA’s drug use and homelessness issues. Earlier this month, Bass accused him of ‘exploiting the grief’ of wildfire victims, stating, ‘Well, honestly, before this, I had never heard of Spencer Pratt. I think that’s reprehensible. He is about his own celebrity.’
Recent polls indicate a competitive race. A UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs survey showed Bass at 25 percent, Pratt at 11 percent, and Raman at 9 percent. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll had Bass at 25 percent, Pratt at 14 percent, and Raman at 17 percent.
