Photo: Adrienne Bresnahan / Moment / Getty Images
The race for mayor of Los Angeles is far from settled. And if recent polling is any indication, voters are still very much making up their minds.
With ballots set to go out ahead of the June 2 primary, new surveys are painting a confusing and in some cases contradictory picture of where the race stands.
So KFI is asking a simple question:
Who do you want to win the Los Angeles mayor’s race?
This is an informal KFI audience poll. Results reflect responses from people who choose to participate online and are not a scientific survey of all Los Angeles voters.
Recent polling shows just how unsettled this race really is.
A survey from Loyola Marymount University raised eyebrows when it showed City Councilmember Nithya Raman leading with 32.5% support, compared to 17% for incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. But that poll surveyed just 370 registered voters and did not allow respondents to say they were undecided—something analysts say is a major limitation.
At the same time, a separate poll from UCLA Luskin tells a very different story:
- Karen Bass: 25%
- Nithya Raman: 9%
- Spencer Pratt: 11%
- About 40% of voters still undecided
That poll surveyed a larger group—813 voters—and highlights what may be the most important factor in this race: a large bloc of undecided voters.
Political analysts caution against reading too much into any single poll this early.
Diego Andrades of USC’s Center for the Political Future says limited voter awareness of the candidates makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions right now. At the same time, he notes that for an incumbent, even signs of weakness can be significant.
Meanwhile, another poll from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies found:
- Karen Bass at 25%
- Nithya Raman at 17%
- Spencer Pratt at 14%
That same research also found Bass with a 56% disapproval rating among likely voters, suggesting potential vulnerability despite her incumbency.
While Bass remains the most recognizable name in the race, she’s facing a growing field of challengers, including:
- Nithya Raman
- Spencer Pratt
- Rae Huang
- Adam Miller
Some voters say recent events—from wildfire response to broader dissatisfaction with city leadership—are fueling a desire for change.
Others say they’re still learning about the candidates and weighing their options. One thing most polls agree on is that a large share of voters has not locked in a choice. That uncertainty, combined with relatively small sample sizes and differing methodologies, is why analysts say it’s too early to call this race.
As Andrades notes, polls can be predictive—but only when multiple surveys begin to point in the same direction. Right now, they do not.
With so much uncertainty—and so many voters still undecided—your voice matters.
Take the poll, tell us who you want to see lead Los Angeles next, and be part of the conversation as this race heads toward June 2. Results will be announced Sunday, April 19th, during KFI Live with Heather Brooker.
This is an informal KFI audience poll. Results reflect responses from people who choose to participate online and are not a scientific survey of all Los Angeles voters.