LOS ANGELES — A heated new chapter has emerged in the Los Angeles mayoral race after mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt filed a formal complaint accusing Karen Bᴀss of violating election laws during an early-voting event.

Pratt alleges that Bᴀss and her supporters engaged in illegal electioneering near a ballot drop box, pointing to a campaign video in which Bᴀss is seen encouraging residents to vote while standing near supporters displaying campaign signs. Pratt claims the activity occurred within a restricted zone where campaigning is prohibited under California election rules.

“Electioneering within 100 feet of a ballot box is against the law,” Pratt wrote on social media while announcing that his legal team had submitted a complaint to city election officials. His attorney argued that the video itself serves as evidence supporting the allegation.

Bᴀss’s campaign strongly rejected the accusations, calling them “completely false.” Representatives for the mayor contend that the footage was taken at separate locations and that no election laws were violated. Bᴀss also dismissed Pratt’s claims publicly, suggesting the complaint was politically motivated.

The dispute arrives at a crucial moment in the race, with both campaigns seeking to energize supporters ahead of key voting ᴅᴇᴀᴅlines. Political observers say the controversy has intensified scrutiny on election-related conduct and could further sharpen divisions among voters already frustrated by debates over homelessness, public safety, and city leadership.

For now, election officials have not announced any findings regarding the complaint. Whether the allegation results in formal action remains uncertain, but the clash has added another dramatic twist to one of Los Angeles’s most closely watched political contests.