Reality TV Star Eyes Los Angeles Mayoral Seat
Spencer Pratt, known for his role as a villain on MTV's popular 2000s reality show The Hills, has transitioned from television personality to political candidate. At 42 years old, the former publicist and Celebrity Big Brother contestant is now running for mayor of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States.
Since announcing his candidacy in January, Pratt, a Republican political outsider, has gained significant traction in the polls and emerged as a serious contender in the race.
Primary Election Results and Fundraising
With approximately two-thirds of votes counted in the primary election held on Tuesday, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is currently the only candidate projected to advance to the November runoff, according to US media outlets.
Pratt is positioned to secure the second spot in the runoff, competing closely with Democratic city council member Nithya Raman for the opportunity to face Bass in the final election.
Financially, Pratt has outpaced his opponents significantly. Between April 19 and May 16, he raised $2.7 million (£2 million), nearly ten times the amount raised by Bass, a seasoned Los Angeles politician, and about seven times the funds raised by Raman during the same period.
Campaign Strategy and Public Image
Pratt's success as a Republican candidate in a predominantly liberal city has been attributed to his strong social media presence. He has utilized TikTok rants, AI-generated videos mocking opponents, and striking political advertisements to capture public attention. Despite rumors, his spokesperson has denied plans for a reality show should he win the mayoral race.
In one campaign advertisement, Pratt declares,
"We are going to get the golden age of Los Angeles back,"
a slogan reminiscent of the "Make America Great Again" message popularized by another reality TV star-turned-politician.
Focus on Recent Disasters and City Issues
Pratt entered the race a year after losing his home in the devastating 2025 Los Angeles fires, among the deadliest and most destructive in the city's history. His campaign has heavily focused on this disaster, criticizing Mayor Bass for an inadequate response.
He has campaigned on a platform of repairing a "broken" Los Angeles, highlighting concerns about safety and cleanliness. Pratt also advocates for mandatory drug treatment programs as a solution to homelessness in the city.
Challenges and Criticism
Experts note that Pratt faces significant challenges. Efrén Pérez, a political psychology professor at the University of California Los Angeles, points out that Los Angeles has not elected a Republican mayor since 2001, a span of 25 years.
Pérez comments on Pratt's appeal,
"I'm not saying that there isn't any validity to being a spokesperson for - and potential improver of - the sort of tragedy that befell one very wealthy slice of LA,"
referring to the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood where Pratt lived and which was affected by the fires.
"But that wealthy slice of LA is not representative of the entire city."
Mayor Bass has openly criticized Pratt's candidacy, stating at a campaign event on Monday,
"It's not just that he has no experience in city government. I don't know that he's ever held a job in his life other than to be a reality TV star. I think he doesn't know the issues. He's operating out of anger."
Similarly, Raman has labeled Pratt an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and argued that he lacks realistic solutions for the city's challenges.
Pratt has responded to these critiques, saying in a recent interview,
"I may not have the experience, but I have the common sense to say this is not working."
Background and Media Career
Pratt first gained fame in 2007 when he joined the cast of The Hills, a spin-off of MTV's Laguna Beach. His role as Heidi Montag's boyfriend was marked by dramatic antics and rumor-spreading, establishing him as a controversial figure.
Pratt and Montag later married and have two children. After the show ended in 2010, Pratt appeared on other reality TV programs such as Celebrity Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! He also launched an online business selling crystals.
Entertainment and Politics Intersection
Marty Kaplan, a professor of entertainment, media, and society at the University of Southern California, observes that politics has become intertwined with entertainment, giving candidates like Pratt an advantage.
California has a history of entertainers entering politics, including actor-turned-president Ronald Reagan and action star-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Former President Donald Trump also transitioned from reality TV to political office. The celebrity-focused tabloid TMZ recently opened a Washington DC office to cover politics.
Kaplan explains,
"The audience has now been accustomed to want to be entertained. A candidate who can have a story that makes you want to know what happens next, and who delivers sure-fire twists and turns and thrills, that's what we want."
He adds that Bass, despite her extensive political experience and community organizing background, is "not as entertaining" as Pratt.
Kaplan notes,
"It used to be that in the battle for attention, what counted was not only do you have a compelling message, but can you deliver? What seems to matter now is almost exclusively, 'will you promise not to bore me?'"
Political Endorsements and Partisan Dynamics
Donald Trump recently commented on Pratt's campaign, stating,
"I'd like to see him do well. He's a character."
Trump also noted,
"I heard he's a big Maga person. He's doing well."
It remains uncertain whether Trump's endorsement will benefit or hinder Pratt in a predominantly liberal city. Pratt has sought to distance himself from national partisan politics, despite nearly 65% of Los Angeles County voters supporting Trump's Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, in the previous presidential election.
Outsider Status and Voter Sentiment
Like Trump during his initial presidential campaign, Pratt is a political outsider. Although he holds a degree in political science, he has never held public office. Kaplan suggests this outsider status means he is "not tainted by experience," which may appeal to voters seeking change.
Kaplan adds,
"Unfortunately, that also may mean that he's not tainted by competence, and voters may be more interested in casting a protest vote against the problems they see… it is a way of saying to the establishment 'you're fired'."
Campaign Challenges Ahead
Professor Pérez, who has experience as a political consultant, remarks that Pratt's candidacy is not surprising given his celebrity status and fundraising capabilities,
"He's a celebrity, but more than that, he is in that sort of stratosphere where he has the ability to tap on people for money."
However, Pérez cautions,
"There's a big leap, massively, between running for office and campaigning, and all the glitter that comes with it, and then getting your hands dirty for the long haul."
