Jeanie Buss, governor of the Lakers, has donated the maximum allowable amount to Spencer Pratt’s mayoral campaign, offering a high-profile boost to a nontraditional candidate in the race to lead Los Angeles.
The $1,800 donation, disclosed in a late campaign finance filing posted Monday, comes as the race remains crowded and unsettled ahead of the June 2 primary.
“A donation like this is a double benefit,” said Dan Schnur, a longtime California political strategist, and professor at USC, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine. “Not only is the money very helpful to the campaign, but a respected business and community leader like Buss lends an aura of credibility that’s especially valuable to a nontraditional candidate like Pratt.”
Schnur added: “It’s not quite as good as a check from LeBron, but it’s pretty close.”
Pratt, a reality television personality best known for “The Hills,” has not held elected office and is running as a political newcomer. He launched his campaign earlier this year after losing his home in the Palisades fire and has framed his bid around criticism of the city’s disaster response, public safety and homelessness policies, including those advanced by Mayor Karen Bass.
According to a 24-hour campaign finance report, Buss made the contribution on Saturday.
Separate filings show that another member of the Buss family, Johnny Buss, also donated the maximum $1,800 to Bass’ reelection effort on Monday.
Campaign finance records show that candidates across the field have drawn support from figures in entertainment and sports. Filings show writer and comedian Colin Jost donated to Councilmember Nithya Raman’s campaign, while contributions from Magic Johnson Entertainment were made to Bass’ reelection effort.
Campaigns have also sought to highlight the breadth of their support, particularly as candidates work to build coalitions that extend beyond traditional political bases.
“More than 1,700 grassroots donors have powered our mayoral campaign to make LA an affordable city that works for everyone,” Raman said in a statement Wednesday. “We are competing citywide in a matter of weeks, without accepting a single corporate donation. Angelenos are showing up with energy and hope. And I will spend every day as mayor making sure this city shows up for them.”
Alex Stack, a spokesperson for Bass’ campaign, emphasized the mayor’s fundraising advantage.
“Mayor Bass is running a people-powered campaign, raising far more than any other candidate in this race,” Stack said. “But the number that matters is cash on hand — and we have a million dollars more than anyone else. Mayor Bass is hitting every corner of L.A., building support and momentum.”
Meanwhile, recent polling has painted a mixed picture of the race, underscoring its fluid nature.
A UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs poll released April 3 found that 40% of likely voters remain undecided, with Bass leading at 25%, followed by Pratt at 11% and Raman at 9%. Housing activist Rae Huang and tech entrepreneur Adam Miller each received 3%.
A separate March poll by the Loyola Marymount University Center for the Study of Los Angeles found Raman leading with 33% of support, while Bass trailed at 17%. Huang followed closely behind Bass at nearly 17%, with Miller at 13% and Pratt at 12%.
Other surveys, however, have shown Bass ahead. An Emerson Polling/Inside California Politics poll placed Bass at 20%, followed by Pratt at 10%, Raman at 9%, Miller at 4% and Huang at 3%.
A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, cosponsored by the Los Angeles Times, also placed Bass in the lead at 25%, with Raman at 17%, Pratt at 14%, Huang at 8% and Miller at 6%. About 25% of voters were undecided.
Taken together, the surveys suggest a volatile contest with no clear consensus among voters, even as candidates continue to build name recognition and sharpen their messages in the final weeks before the primary.
Campaign finance filings show that Pratt has raised more than $500,000 so far, placing him among the more competitive challengers, though he trails far behind Bass, who has brought in nearly $3 million.
Candidates who qualify for the city’s public financing program can receive matching funds to amplify small-dollar donations. Bass and Raman have each received about $874,000 and $613,000, respectively, through the program, while Pratt has been approved for the program, but has not yet reported receiving funds.
A spokesperson for the Pratt campaign declined to comment on Buss’ contribution Wednesday.