Latest poll changes outlook for Los Angeles mayoral election
Today, California reporter Paris Barraza brings you an update on the Los Angeles mayoral race following the release of a new poll and the cancellation of the mayor’s forum.
An internet trend has emerged among conservative voters claiming they will travel to California to illegally vote for former reality TV star Spencer Pratt in the upcoming Los Angeles mayoral election.
It’s unclear whether the social media trend started as a joke among voters or as a serious plan, but it has since spread across TikTok and X. Users shared the idea of flying or driving to Los Angeles, claiming they could take advantage of California’s “no voter ID required” law to vote for Mr. Pratt in the June primary.
“California Democrats fought to ensure you don’t have to show ID to vote,” James Woods’ post reads. “It’s a mistake to come to Los Angeles and vote, but it’s certainly ironic.”
Mr. Woods later clarified that his post on X about people traveling to California to vote for Mr. Platt was “satire for the record.”
The city of Los Angeles will soon decide whether to re-elect incumbent Mayor Karen Bass or select one of the leading candidates, including Councilmember Nitya Raman and Pratt. The mayoral election will be held on June 2nd, when local voters will cast their votes for the mayor’s office and many other positions.
Mr. Pratt announced his candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles in January as part of the one-year anniversary of the Palisades fire, and has been an outspoken critic of Mr. Bass. He recently used the forum to scrutinize her tenure. He also went viral for sharing a video that sparked conversation in support of his candidacy.
Support for Mr. Platt has increased in the weeks leading up to the election, with President Donald Trump saying on May 20 that the Republican candidate was “doing a good job.”
The California Secretary of State’s Office acknowledged that it is aware of the social media trend.
“Let’s be clear: committing voter fraud in California is a felony, punishable by up to three years in state prison,” a Secretary of State’s Office spokesperson said in an email.
“The Secretary of State’s Office thoroughly reviews all reports of potential election fraud and works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to hold violators accountable for their actions.”
What social media is claiming about California voting
Some users claim they are unable to vote in California due to a misunderstanding of the state’s voting laws.
Many online users argue that California does not require voters to show a photo ID to vote in person.
However, the California Secretary of State’s Office will verify that these ballots cast match the individual’s information provided in their voter registration.
In some cases, voters may be required to show identification to vote for the first time if they do not provide their driver’s license number, California identification number, or last four digits of their Social Security number when registering.
“Approximately 98% of all registered voters in California provide the last four digits of their driver’s license or Social Security number when registering to vote,” a Secretary of State’s Office spokesperson said in an email.
Nevertheless, online users promoted the idea of voting in California.
“In a city fighting for its future, every vote counts to save Los Angeles,” user X’s post reads. “While everyone else is speaking, supporters are coming from everywhere because they believe in real change: safer streets, zero tolerance for disruption, and a mayor who actually gets it.”
“First, you can register the day you want to vote. Second, you don’t have to prove who you are or where you live. Third, you can vote however you want. They don’t care. They just want your vote,” the user claimed in the comments section of the post.
After all, some social media users are criticizing Congressional Democrats for their unwillingness to support a key voting bill, the Protecting American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE).
The SAVE America Act Overhaul the public voting process by requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote. The bill passed the House in February 2026, but fell short of the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster and has since stalled in the Senate.
How does voting work in California?
You must register to vote in California. According to the California Secretary of State’s Office, you are eligible to register to vote if you:
- Be 18 years of age or older on election day
- US citizens and California residents
- Not currently serving a sentence in state or federal prison for a felony conviction
- Has not been determined by a court to be mentally incompetent to vote
The California Secretary of State’s Office said that to register to vote in California, you must provide a California driver’s license or state ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have either, you can still register to vote by being assigned a “unique identifier” that is verified by election officials.
However, if you have missed the voter registration deadline, and you are in fact eligible to vote in California, you can vote at a Los Angeles County Vote Center through the Conditional Voter Registration process. Ballots will be counted once the conditional voter registration application is verified, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office.
Who is Spencer Pratt?
“The Hills” star Pratt reportedly announced his candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles on January 7 as part of protests commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Palisades fire.
Pratt is best known for appearing on the reality show The Hills, which began on MTV in 2006. The show was created by Adam DiVello, who is also known for Netflix’s recent hit Selling Sunset, which depicts the drama of a luxury real estate sale in Los Angeles.
Pratt and his wife, “The Hills” alumna Heidi Montag, shared a home in Pacific Palisades until they lost their home in the Palisades fire last January.
Spencer Pratt Poll: How is he doing in the LA mayoral race?
Mr. Pratt had the biggest increase in approval ratings of any candidate in an Emerson College Poll/Inside California Politics poll released in May. In May, 22% of people supported the former “The Hills” star, compared to 10% in March.
A UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs poll conducted in early April found that Bass leads with 25% of voters, but that a majority of voters, 40%, are undecided about the race as it approaches. Following Bass was Pratt with 11%. In the Raman poll, it was 9%.
The numbers were not much different from the results of the Emerson College Poll/California Internal Politics released in March. Bass and Pratt were the only candidates with double-digit support at 19.5% and 10.2%, respectively.
This story used an earlier report by USA TODAY reporter Joey Garrison.
Noe Padilla is a Northern California reporter for USA Today. To contact him, npadilla@usatodayco.comX Follow him at @1NoePadilla or Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow TODAY Californian on Facebook.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. please contact her pbarraza@usatodayco.com.
