Spencer Pratt, the former reality TV star best known for his villainous role on MTV's The Hills, has seen his campaign for mayor of Los Angeles come to an end after a lackluster showing in the primary election. According to results called by the Associated Press on Monday night, progressive city councilor Nithya Raman edged out Pratt, who will not advance to the November runoff. Raman will face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the general election.
A Campaign Built on Frustration
Pratt, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades wildfire in January 2025, positioned himself as the antidote to the city's woes. He curried favor with disillusioned voters by launching diatribes against city leadership and sharing viral social media posts, including AI-generated campaign ads portraying Los Angeles in an apocalyptic light. Despite garnering national attention, his online virality was insufficient to overcome his lack of government experience and his status as a registered Republican in a deep-blue city.
Pratt has not yet conceded the election. In a break from his typically prolific online presence, he has issued few remarks since Tuesday, save for an X post suggesting without evidence that Raman rounded up unhoused people to vote for her. Donald Trump, who endorsed Pratt, offered his own assessment, calling the race "crooked," echoing unfounded conspiracy theories about voter fraud in California's slow ballot-counting process.
Uphill Battle from the Start
Pratt faced several obstacles. His lack of government experience drew questions about his plans for the city, though he dismissed concerns, stating, "I’m a lifelong Angeleno who’s seen my home city waste away under poor leadership. THAT is my experience." He also ran in a largely Democratic city; Los Angeles has not had a Republican mayor since Richard Riordan, who served from 1993 to 2001. Trump's endorsement, deeply unpopular among local voters, further hindered his campaign.
On the trail, Pratt distanced himself from partisan allegiances, emphasizing that the mayoral race is nonpartisan. He focused attacks on city leadership, tapping into resentment beyond party lines, including frustrations over the cost-of-living crisis and homelessness emergency. Polling shows most Angelenos feel the city is headed in the wrong direction, with Los Angeles remaining one of the most expensive US cities and short 270,000 affordable housing units. While Bass oversaw a 17.5% reduction in street homelessness, nearly 44,000 people remain unhoused.
Results and Reactions
As of Monday, Pratt secured 25.8% of the vote, trailing Raman (28.6%) and Bass (34.3%). Veteran journalist Jim Newton wrote in CalMatters, "It says something – or should say something – to leaders of Los Angeles that roughly a third of the city’s voters are so unhappy with life as it is that they are willing to back a patently absurd candidate to run the place." Pratt underperformed compared to Republican real estate mogul Rick Caruso, who received about 36% in the 2022 primary. Raman and Bass will now face off in a race symbolizing Democratic party tensions between centrists and progressives.
It remains unclear whether Pratt's political ambitions will continue. He vowed to leave the city if he lost. His campaign did not respond to a request for comment on his next chapter.
