Incumbent Karen Bass, Spencer Pratt, Nithya Raman, and 13 others are running in the nonpartisan primary for mayor of Los Angeles, California, on June 2. Bass, Pratt, and Raman lead in polling and media attention.

The Los Angeles Times' Julia Wick and David Zahniser write of Bass' re-election bid: "Bass appeared to be on the path to an easy reelection, with no serious challengers in sight after a relatively drama-free first two years in office. But that was before a wildfire annihilated swaths of Pacific Palisades, putting Bass’ leadership under a national microscope, and before the city slid into a major financial crisis, with Bass searching for cuts to close a nearly $1-billion budget gap."

Bass was elected mayor on Nov. 8, 2022, defeating real estate developer Rick Caruso 54.8% to 45.2%. Though the city's mayor is nonpartisan, Bass is a Democrat who ran as a progressive, focusing on homelessness and affordable housing. Bass says she is running for re-election "because the foundation is laid, and now we can build the city we all deserve — a city where our kids no longer dodge tents on their walk to school. Where hardworking people can afford to live. Where restaurants, soundstages, and downtowns are thriving again. Where every neighborhood reflects the dynamism, the culture, and the spirit of Los Angeles."

Pratt starred in the reality television show The Hills and lost his home during the 2025 Palisades wildfire. A registered Republican, he announced his campaign at a rally marking the one-year anniversary of the wildfire. Pratt says, "Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I'm done waiting for someone to take real action. That's why I am running for mayor. But let me be clear, this just isn't a campaign -- this is a mission, and we are going to expose the system. We are going into every dark corner of L.A. politics and disinfecting the city with our light."

Raman represents Los Angeles City Council District 4 and is an urban planner. She is a Democrat and has received support from the Democratic Socialists of America in past elections. Raman says, "I have deep respect for Mayor Bass. We’ve worked closely together on my biggest priorities and her biggest priorities, and there’s significant alignment there. But over the last few months in particular, I’ve really begun to feel like unless we have some big changes in how we do things in Los Angeles, that the things we count on are not going to function anymore."

The Los Angeles Times' Steve Lopez writes, "Raman is to the left of Bass and the traditional left in Los Angeles. ... Raman’s candidacy — along with DSA candidates for other city offices — makes the election something of a referendum on the evolving center of political clout in L.A. It raises the question of whether the city is ready to blow things up and move further in the direction of New York City, which just elected as mayor the ultra-progressive Zohran Mamdani." Pratt is running to the right of Bass, focusing on public safety and crime reduction.

Los Angeles' chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America decided not to endorse a candidate for the primary election. Endorsements for Bass include both business and labor organizations and the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Donald Trump's (R) presidential envoy for special missions Richard Grenell endorsed Pratt, while Abundant Housing LA and the Future Urbanist Club endorsed Raman.

A UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs poll released on April 3, shows 25% of likely voters supporting Bass, 11% Pratt, and 9% Raman. Forty percent of voters were undecided. UCLA's Zev Yaroslavsky writes, "It is unusual for 40% of likely voters to be unsure of their choice just two months before an LA mayoralty election. Although Mayor Bass faces the most challenging reelection of an incumbent mayor in decades, it is highly likely that this election will be decided in a November runoff." The last time an incumbent mayor was not re-elected was in 2005, when Mayor James Hahn lost to Antonio Villaraigosa 58.6%-41.4%.

In Los Angeles, a candidate who wins 50% or more of the vote in a primary wins the election outright. If no candidate does so, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election on Nov. 3.

Los Angeles uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive. As of 2026, Los Angeles has term limits for the position of mayor. Mayors can serve two four-year terms.

Asaad Alnajjar (Nonpartisan), Tish Hyman (Nonpartisan), Andrew Kim (Nonpartisan), and Andrej A. Selivra (Nonpartisan) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.

Bryant Acosta, Rae Chen Huang, Nelson Cheng, Suzy Kim, John Logsdon, Juanita Lopez, Adam Miller, Griselda Diaz, and Misael Ortega are also running in the election.