As a few candidates gear up for their second debate in the Los Angeles mayoral race, some notable figures from the local sports scene have stepped up, contributing the maximum allowed to their chosen candidate.
Jeanie Buss, the former owner of the Los Angeles Lakers who sold a majority stake in the franchise for a staggering $10 billion last June, made the highest donation of $1,800 to Spencer Pratt.
This contribution came to light through a post from user @unrigLA, sharing details from Pratt’s campaign contribution report that also noted Bass’ involvement.
Interestingly, there hasn’t been any public comment from Bass regarding the donation. On a somewhat unrelated note, she boasts over 337,000 followers on Instagram.
Previously, reports indicated that Pratt, who gained fame on shows like Laguna Beach and The Hills, is making significant strides in fundraising efforts.
Recent figures suggest he has raised nearly $540,000 since January, outperforming current Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. This amount slightly surpasses his rival Nithya Raman, who raised $530,000 in the first quarter of 2026, while Bass raised $495,000.
On the other hand, Bass has accumulated a noteworthy war chest of $2.3 million over the last two years from donations, giving her a considerable financial edge over her competitors.
Despite this, the race remains quite open, with polls indicating that no candidate is likely to secure more than 50% of the votes, which would lead to a runoff in November.
Current approval ratings show Bass at 25%, with Raman at 17% and Pratt at 14%. Another poll positioned Pratt in second place with 11%, which suggests some shifting dynamics within the race.
Pratt has been vocal in his campaign, particularly criticizing Bass for her leadership decisions, especially regarding the devastating impacts of the 2024 Pacific Palisades fire that left many homes lost and people displaced.
He’s also expressed doubts about Bass’ proposed renovation for MacArthur Park and her substantial $14.85 billion operating budget.
Bass isn’t the only prominent figure supporting Pratt; he has garnered backing from podcaster Joe Rogan, actor Adam Carolla, and reality star Nick Viall, among others.
The $10 billion sale of the Lakers not only represents the highest valuation ever for a professional sports team but also marks a significant change, ending the family’s 50-year control over the franchise.
While the Bass family will maintain a 15% stake in the Lakers, Jeanie will stay on as a governor and continue managing the daily operations of the team for the foreseeable future.
Reports suggest that each member of the Bass family received payments of roughly $900 million from this deal.
