Billionaire Jeanie Buss Supports Spencer Pratt in LA Mayoral Race

Jeanie Buss, the billionaire and governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, has made a notable donation to reality TV star Spencer Pratt as he aims to challenge Karen Bass for the Los Angeles mayoralty.

Reportedly, Buss contributed $1,800 to Pratt’s campaign, a detail that surfaced through a circular shared online, showing her backing as Pratt gains traction in what seems to be an increasingly competitive race.

Pratt’s campaign appears to be building momentum. Recent figures indicate he has raised close to $540,000 since January, edging out Nithya Raman, who brought in about $530,000. Meanwhile, incumbent Karen Bass has slightly lagged, securing roughly $495,000.

Yet, Bass maintains a significant overall financial advantage. Her campaign has amassed around $2.3 million over the last two years, providing her with a solid foundation as the election progresses.

Bass has not publicly endorsed Pratt and hasn’t mentioned the donations in any recent social media updates related to his campaign.

A recent survey indicates that many residents of Los Angeles feel “less satisfied” with their quality of life as the mayoral election approaches. Conducted by the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA, the survey included responses from 1,400 residents between March 15 and March 29, with a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.

The survey revealed that overall satisfaction among Angelenos is at a historic low, with the index dropping to 52. Six out of nine categories making up this index have also reached their lowest points. Notably, education, transportation, and living costs are experiencing significant declines, exacerbating ongoing affordability and infrastructure issues.

The survey highlighted major concerns among residents, with the leading issue being fear of deportation (31%), followed by losses from historic wildfires (26%) and dissatisfaction with the relief efforts under Mayor Karen Bass (56%).

Zev Yaroslavsky, who directs UCLA Luskin’s Los Angeles Initiative, noted that residents’ quality of life ratings have diminished since the height of the pandemic. “We’ve gone through so much in the past few years—COVID-19, rising living costs, and severe wildfires have impacted almost every facet of our lives.”

Despite these challenges, Yaroslavsky mentioned that a slight majority (53%) of respondents expressed optimism about the economic future of Los Angeles County.