Union-funded 'attack ad' against Pratt seems aimed at helping him make runoff, analysts say

"A 30-second campaign video spot making the rounds this week claims to oppose Spencer Pratt in the June 2 primary for Los Angeles mayor. But to many viewers, the list of criticisms against Pratt seem more like a roster of his selling points for L.A.'s Republican voters. Pratt wants to add more police officers, rein in the power of public employee unions and spend less on brand-new housing for the homeless, the ad proclaims."

"Those all seem aimed at boosting Pratt's appeal with conservative voters, political analysts say - a strategy they think is aimed at helping the Republican Pratt, and not progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman, make it into a Nov. 3 runoff with Mayor Karen Bass. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which is backing Bass, spent $221,000 in connection with the ad, according to a filing with the city Ethics Commission."

""The Fed wants the easiest path for Bass in the run off, which would be against Pratt instead of Nithya Raman because only 18% of registered voters in L.A. are Republicans," said Fernando Guerra, a political science professor at Loyola Marymount University. In a non-partisan primary where all the candidates are polling at under 30%, getting Pratt more votes from Republicans could be the push he needs to get past Raman, with whom he is polling neck and neck, Guerra said."

A 30-second campaign video criticizing Spencer Pratt circulates ahead of the June 2 Los Angeles mayor primary. The ad claims to oppose Pratt but lists policies that align with conservative priorities: adding more police officers, limiting public employee union power, and reducing spending on new housing for people experiencing homelessness. Political analysts say these points could attract Republican voters and potentially help Pratt gain enough support to advance past Nithya Raman into a Nov. 3 runoff against Mayor Karen Bass. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which backs Bass, spent $221,000 related to the ad, according to a city Ethics Commission filing. The federation denounced Pratt but did not address whether the ad targets Republican appeal.

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