Still counting but very confident, Spencer Pratt declared Tuesday night that he intends to take on Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in November’s runoff election after posting a strong performance in the city’s closely watched mayoral race.

With approximately 48% of the vote counted as of 10:15 p.m., Bass led the field with 36.65% of the vote, according to figures reported by The Associated Press. Pratt followed with 29.55%, while candidate Raman stood in third place with 20.79%.

Despite trailing Bass in the initial returns, Pratt expressed confidence that he would secure a place in the runoff election and continue his campaign for Los Angeles’ highest office. His supporters viewed the results as evidence that a significant portion of voters are interested in alternatives to the city’s current leadership and direction.

The mayoral contest has attracted considerable attention as Los Angeles continues to face major challenges, including public safety concerns, homelessness, affordability issues, and questions about the city’s long-term economic future. Voters have increasingly demanded solutions to problems that have persisted for years despite repeated promises from political leaders.

Bass, the incumbent mayor, entered the race with the advantages that come with holding office, but Pratt’s performance demonstrated that the electorate remains engaged and open to competing visions for the future of the city. In politics, incumbency can be powerful, but voters still have a habit of asking inconvenient questions when problems remain unresolved.

With the top candidates battling for a place in the November runoff, the coming months are expected to feature intense campaigning and a growing debate over the direction of America’s second-largest city.

For Pratt and his supporters, Tuesday night represented an important step forward and an opportunity to bring new energy into the race. As vote counting continues, attention now turns to the runoff battle, where Los Angeles voters will ultimately decide who they believe is best equipped to lead the city into its next chapter.