California Primary Tests Democratic Field Amid Voter Discontent

SANTA MONICA, CA — Business leaders in Los Angeles are pointing to rising crime, the aftermath of recent wildfires, and a hostile climate for companies as the forces driving support for Spencer Pratt in the mayoral race. John Putnam, president of Putnam Brands and a former Santa Monica city council candidate, told Fox News Digital that residents are fed up with the politicians they blame for the disorder.

"People are angry," Putnam said. "I think a lot of people are concerned about what's happening, they really don't know how to fix this, and I think the crime, the homelessness, the addiction, all the above behaviors of what's happened in our city as politicians that are causing this, I think a lot people are seeing that."

Putnam noted that Pratt's straightforward approach to these problems is cutting through. Even voters who may not back him are paying attention, he said, because the issues feel immediate and unaddressed by the current leadership. Santa Monica itself does not vote in the Los Angeles mayoral contest, but Putnam argued the winner's policies will affect the broader county through a trickle-down effect on taxes, policing, and development rules.

Pratt, the former reality television personality now backed by President Trump, has surged in recent polling by accusing city officials of criminal negligence in their handling of the wildfires and by highlighting daily failures on the streets. His campaign has leaned on short videos that show tent encampments, open drug use, and businesses fleeing the area. Those messages appear to be landing with voters who have watched property values drop and safety erode under years of Democratic control.

The broader California primary landscape on Tuesday reflects similar discontent. The governor's race has featured scandals that knocked out several establishment figures, including accusations that ended Eric Swalwell's bid and left Democrats scrambling for a replacement. A jungle primary system means the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party, raising the possibility that a Republican could reach the general election if the Democratic field remains fractured.

In Los Angeles, no Republican has won the mayor's office in three decades. Pratt's rise challenges that pattern by focusing on results rather than ideology. Putnam said the candidate's basic delivery of core issues—safer streets, accountable spending, and an end to policies that shelter addicts and criminals—resonates because residents see the consequences every day. Wildfire damage compounded those frustrations when response times lagged and rebuilding permits stalled.

Local business owners report losing customers to theft and feeling squeezed by regulations that favor large developers over small enterprises. Putnam described the city as a byproduct of state-level decisions that prioritize certain social programs over enforcement and basic order. He said voters are now looking for someone willing to name those trade-offs directly.

Tuesday's voting will test whether Pratt's momentum holds through the primary and forces a runoff against incumbent Karen Bass. Putnam expressed hope that the conversation Pratt has started will continue even if he does not win outright. For many in the region, the alternative is more of the same visible decline in neighborhoods that once drew families and investment.