Donald Trump declares Los Angeles mayoral race rigged and backs Spencer Pratt

President Donald Trump publicly claimed that the Los Angeles mayoral primary was “rigged,” repeating unsubstantiated allegations about California’s mail‑in voting system. He urged former reality‑TV personality Spencer Pratt, who was eliminated in the primary, to “not go away quietly” and to contest the results.

Pratt had briefly led the second‑place spot on election night, but after weeks of counting a large volume of mail ballots, progressive city councilmember Nithya Raman overtook him by a narrow margin, securing the runoff slot alongside incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. The Associated Press certified the results, and no evidence of widespread fraud has been presented. Federal officials indicated routine reviews of voter rolls but have not confirmed any irregularities.

Trump’s statements were made during a Faith & Freedom Coalition speech and on his Truth Social platform, and he cited the race as part of a broader claim that California’s vote‑by‑mail policy favors Democrats. The remarks have drawn criticism for inflaming doubts about election integrity without proof.