Spencer Pratt, a candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral race, has lodged a formal complaint against the current Mayor, Karen Bass, claiming she breached election laws by approaching a ballot box during early voting.
The complaint, submitted to the Los Angeles City Clerk’s Office on Tuesday, accuses Bass of participating in illegal campaign activities while motivating voters to cast their ballots ahead of the June primary.
Attorney Peter McNulty, representing Pratt’s campaign, stated that Pratt was seen in social media videos “soliciting votes” near polling locations, even holding signs encouraging supporters to vote for him.
The letter indicates that Bass “clearly violated” both local election law and California state regulations, with notable seriousness leading to additional charges at the state level.
Specifically, the complaint asserts that her actions contravened rules forbidding campaigning within 100 feet of a polling site and highlights what it describes as her “reckless disregard for the rule of law.”
“Karen Bass just broke election laws here. She is used to breaking the law with impunity,” Pratt remarked on X, while sharing a video response to Bass’s recent post.
He emphasized that this move wasn’t about political messaging but rather about ensuring equal enforcement of election laws for everyone, regardless of their position or authority.
In that referenced video, Bass is seen engaging with supporters and campaign volunteers, as well as dropping off her ballot alongside them.
“Campaigning within 100 feet of a ballot box is against the law. Soliciting a vote at a ballot box is illegal,” Pratt pointed out, labeling Bass’s actions as indicative of a “mafia-like regime.”
According to the Los Angeles Election Code, any campaigning is prohibited within 100 feet of essential voting locations.
This ordinance blocks activities like soliciting votes, displaying campaign paraphernalia, and engaging voters about their voting choices, all aimed at maintaining neutrality close to polling areas.
Bass’s campaign firmly denies any wrongdoing, suggesting Pratt is upset because his backers are “AI cartoons” while they have genuine support from real Angelenos. “We play by the rules,” said campaign spokesperson Alex Stack.
The campaign clarified that the video was recorded at two distant sites, asserting that a campaign sign seen was placed in a park while the ballot drop-off occurred at a different location, approximately 200 feet away.
The contention arises from a campaign video released about a week prior to the primary, showing Bass thanking supporters who were dropping off their ballots while promoting her re-election efforts.
The city clerk’s office has not officially commented on the matter yet. The primary election is set for June 2, and if no candidate secures over 50% of the votes, the top two candidates will move on to a runoff in November.
A recent Emerson College poll indicates a competitive race, with Pratt at 22%, trailing Bass, who has a 30% approval rating. Nithya Raman is in third place at 19%, while 16% of voters remain undecided.
