Two decades after becoming reality television’s most polarizing figure on The Hills, Spencer Pratt has orchestrated perhaps the most unexpected career pivot imaginable: he’s now a serious contender in the Los Angeles mayoral race. And unlike past celebrity political curiosities, this one seems to be sticking.
The 42-year-old crystal entrepreneur is currently polling in second place, with an 89 percent approval rating from voters in a recent NBC4LA debate against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and fellow candidate Nithya Raman. His campaign videos rack up millions of views. Major donors—including Lakers CEO Jeanie Buss, music executive Lucian Grainge, and producer Brian Grazer—are backing him. Celebrities like Paris Hilton, Big Sean, and Jenny McCarthy are amplifying his message on social media. This isn’t a flash-in-the-pan stunt anymore. It’s a genuine political movement, fueled by genuine frustration.
What’s driving this seismic shift in Pratt’s public standing? Largely, his lived experience of LA’s crisis. He and his family lost their Pacific Palisades homes in the January 2025 wildfires—the very disaster that catalyzed his mayoral run. His platform centers on law and order, tackling homelessness and addiction, and preventing future disasters through proper fire department funding and police staffing. For a city exhausted by years of visible decay, his outsider status and willingness to speak plainly about dysfunction resonates louder than traditional political credentials. As Pratt himself puts it:“This is my destiny.”
Not everyone’s convinced. Chelsea Handler has compared him unfavorably to Donald Trump. Bass’s campaign accuses him of running on“AI slop and no plans.”And his own sister Stephanie has publicly stated he doesn’t belong in government. The critiques aren’t baseless—Pratt’s lack of government experience is real, and his tendency toward hyperbole (claiming Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx privately endorsed him, though Us Weekly notes neither has made a public endorsement) raises legitimate questions about credibility.
Yet here’s what makes this moment genuinely revealing: it says far more about Los Angeles than it says about Spencer Pratt. A city gripped by homelessness, addiction, fire, and crime is so desperate for change—any change—that it’s willing to bet on a former reality star with no political playbook. Pratt’s pitch is simple: enforce existing laws, staff the police department properly, rebuild after the fires. Call it cynical or call it refreshing, but in a race between June 2 and November 3, Los Angeles voters will have to decide whether common sense and outsider energy are enough to run a city of nearly 4 million people. The primary happens June 2, with the general election on November 3.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
