Samantha Ettus, a commentator and author who has been loudly backing Spencer Pratt’s long-shot bid for Los Angeles mayor, has kicked up a political dust cloud after posting short videos that urge conservatives to vote for incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the June primary. Ettus pitched the move as a tactical maneuver to block progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman from grabbing one of the top two spots and to clear a path for Pratt, and the clips have been ricocheting around social media. The uproar has thrown fresh fuel on the never-ending debate over cross-party strategic voting as the June 2 primary draws near.
As reported by the New York Post, Ettus told viewers her "primary motivation is to prevent Nithya Raman from winning" and urged conservative followers to back Bass in the city’s nonpartisan primary. The Post notes that the videos have pulled in tens of thousands of views and that Ettus framed the whole idea as a way to give Pratt a legitimate shot at advancing.
Influencer’s Pitch Draws Backlash
Critics wasted no time unloading on the strategy. Elizabeth Barcohana, among others, posted that telling people to vote for Bass "so Spencer can win" was "a strategy so horrifying only a democrat would think of it," according to the New York Post. Commentators also warned that the plan could easily backfire, potentially pushing Bass over the 50 percent mark and handing her an outright win in June, which would wipe out any chance of a November runoff.
Why The Math Matters In June
Under Los Angeles election rules, the June primary produces an outright winner if any candidate captures a majority of the vote. If no one hits that mark, the top two finishers head to a November showdown. That nonpartisan, top-two format means tactical voting can pack a real punch in a crowded field, especially in a race where multiple Democrats and an insurgent conservative are all grabbing attention, as the Los Angeles Times has explained.
Where The Race Stands
The race itself is still very much in flux. Recent campaign filings and local coverage indicate that Spencer Pratt has jumped ahead in fundraising and social media buzz, while Bass continues to show up as a frontrunner in polling. FOX 11 and the Washington Examiner have pointed to Pratt’s fundraising haul and endorsements as signs that his once-dismissed candidacy is gaining traction, which only makes any vote-splitting gambits more significant.
Whatever Ettus was aiming for with her videos, the flap underlines how influencer-driven election tips can scramble the political math in local races and why campaigns, activists, and voters are obsessing over turnout tactics as ballots go out. With the June 2 primary less than a month away, arguments over tactical voting are likely to keep simmering in comment sections, group chats, and neighborhood conversations across Los Angeles.
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