Los Angeles, California — The race for Los Angeles Mayor has garnered significant attention with a flurry of celebrity endorsements for both the incumbent, Mayor Karen Bass, and her Republican-turned-independent challenger, Spencer Pratt. The political landscape is shifting rapidly, with recent polls suggesting a tight contest as the June 2 primary election approaches.
"I’m not a politician. I’m a husband and father who watched my home burn because the system failed us. We don’t need more government programs. We need common sense, accountability, and a Mayor that shows up for everyone." — Spencer Pratt, Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate
Veteran Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid, 72, publicly announced his support for Spencer Pratt's mayoral bid at the 2nd Annual Military & Veteran Entertainment Awards Gala on Saturday. Quaid, known for his extensive film career including the 2024 presidential biopic "Reagan," received the 2026 Patriot Ally Award at the event. When asked by Fox News Digital about his reasons for backing Pratt, Quaid reportedly responded, "Why? What are you talking about? Why? Just look around, man."
Quaid's endorsement is rooted in personal experience and criticism of Mayor Bass's handling of local crises. The actor was among thousands of residents forced to evacuate their homes during the catastrophic 2025 Palisades Fire. He subsequently emerged as a vocal critic of Mayor Bass, particularly condemning her decision to travel to Ghana while fierce windstorms exacerbated the deadly blazes across the region.
Spencer Pratt, 42, best known from the reality television series "The Hills," entered the mayoral race in January 2026, running as a registered Republican under an independent banner. Pratt has since diversified into business and become a prominent critic of Los Angeles's current political leadership. His campaign website explicitly states that "the devastating 2025 Palisades fires that destroyed his family home" were a primary motivator for his candidacy. A statement attributed to Pratt on his site reads: "I’m not a politician. I’m a husband and father who watched my home burn because the system failed us. We don’t need more government programs. We need common sense, accountability, and a Mayor that shows up for everyone."
Pratt's campaign has attracted a broad coalition of public figures. Podcast host Joe Rogan, actor James Woods, and comedian Adam Carolla have all publicly voiced their support for the challenger. President Donald Trump also weighed in on the contest earlier this month, offering words of encouragement for Pratt. President Trump told Los Angeles Magazine, "I’d like to see him do well, he’s a character." He added, "I assume he probably supports me. I hear he does. I heard he’s a big MAGA person. He’s doing well." President Trump and Mayor Bass have previously clashed on issues such as immigration enforcement and other policy matters during her tenure.
Mayor Bass has responded to the growing support for her challenger by securing celebrity endorsements of her own. On Thursday, she announced that Marvel actor Samuel L. Jackson had joined her reelection campaign. Mayor Bass posted on X, "Honored to have the endorsement of my dear friend, @SamuelLJackson. Sam has always shown up for the people and causes he believes in – and I am grateful he is showing up for Los Angeles. We’re aligned on the change I’m working to bring to L.A." In the same post, she outlined her second-term agenda, stating, "That means getting more people off the streets into housing and connected with comprehensive services. It means more affordable housing units being built. And it means continuing to lower crime down to historic lows." Jackson characterized Mayor Bass as someone who "will go in the streets and gather the people together, not someone who will divide them."
Despite the star power now aligning with both campaigns, recent polling data suggests a highly competitive electoral landscape. A UC Berkeley–Los Angeles Times poll indicates Mayor Bass currently leads among likely voters with 26 percent. City Councilmember Nithya Raman closely follows at 25 percent, with Spencer Pratt trailing closely at 22 percent. According to CNBC, both Pratt and Raman have gained eight percentage points since March, transforming what was once perceived as a comfortable incumbency advantage for Bass into a genuine three-way toss-up. Should no candidate achieve a majority on June 2, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff election. The influx of celebrity endorsements underscores the high stakes and increasingly unpredictable nature of the Los Angeles mayoral race.
