The Los Angeles mayoral election became a focus of controversy as vote tallies progressed slowly. Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star and MAGA-backed candidate, faced scrutiny regarding his position in the race. Allegations of fraud erupted on X, accusing a plot to prevent Pratt from advancing to the November runoff against incumbent Karen Bass. These claims, unsubstantiated and fueled by changing betting odds on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, led to intense discussion online.
Influencers on X, some sponsored by the betting companies themselves, amplified these fraud allegations. Mila Joy, a Trump-aligned influencer, shared posts suggesting manipulation of vote counts against Pratt. Similarly, commentator David Freeman questioned the integrity of the election process in California. These allegations spread rapidly, especially after the Associated Press predicted a second-place finish for Nithya Raman, overtaking Pratt.
Sponsored posts on X by influencers, in partnership with Kalshi and Polymarket, faced criticism for potentially spreading misinformation. Both companies engage influencers to promote betting odds, but this has brought legal and ethical challenges. Emerson Brooking, a disinformation expert, highlighted the influencers’ motivations, noting their role in sharing content that aligns with followers’ expectations while maintaining lucrative contracts.
In response, Kalshi and Polymarket have initiated efforts to control misinformation. Following inquiries from NPR, Kalshi instructed influencers to remove several posts. Polymarket similarly curtailed sponsorships tied to misleading content. Influencers such as Benny Johnson and Kangmin Lee had their “paid partnership” tags removed from certain posts.
Experts have expressed concerns over the impact of betting odds on voter perception. Zarine Kharazian underscored the potential confusion among voters, who may mistake betting odds for polling data. This confusion is compounded by California’s slow ballot counting process, which can fuel unfounded fraud claims.
President Trump, for instance, has criticized California’s handling of the mayoral race, baselessly labeling it as rigged. Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. Attorney for Los Angeles, noted ongoing investigations into fraud claims but has debunked certain conspiracy theories.
As the November midterm elections approach, experts like Stephen Richer from the Cato Institute express concern over continued election denialism, expecting similar tactics to be used to challenge election outcomes.
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