Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has withdrawn from an upcoming mayoral candidate forum scheduled for Wednesday, citing prior commitments in Sacramento. The forum, co-hosted by the League of Women Voters and the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, will now feature Councilmember Nithya Raman, businessman Adam Miller, and community advocate Rae Huang. Bass’s campaign spokesperson, Alex Stack, stated she will be in Sacramento addressing housing, homelessness, and recovery efforts for the Palisades Fire, as well as discussing the Olympics and World Cup partnerships.
The withdrawal follows a heated debate where Bass faced criticism from Republican candidate Spencer Pratt over her administration’s handling of the 2025 wildfires. Pratt, who initially declined the forum due to a scheduling conflict, has gained traction on social media after viral debate clips and campaign videos. He has accused Bass of mismanaging the Palisades Fire response and the city’s homelessness crisis.
Meanwhile, Pratt praised CBS News for posting the full version of an interview he previously criticized as a "hit piece." After initially accusing the network of unfairly editing footage from his destroyed Pacific Palisades home, Pratt thanked CBS for releasing the unedited interview, calling it "a new era of responsible journalism." The dispute arose after CBS aired a segment featuring Pratt, which he claimed was edited to include clips from his reality TV show, "The Hills," and downplay his policy positions.
The remaining candidates in the forum will address issues facing Los Angeles, including housing, homelessness, and disaster recovery. Pratt’s campaign has centered on frustration with Bass’s administration, while Bass’s team emphasizes her focus on state-level advocacy and intergovernmental partnerships.