Reality TV Villain Spencer Pratt Launches Bid to Become Los Angeles Mayor

Sun Jul 12 2026 09:25:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former MTV star Spencer Pratt, known for his role on The Hills, is campaigning for mayor of Los Angeles, raising record funds and challenging traditional politicians.

Spencer Pratt, the 42‑year‑old ex‑publicist who first made headlines on the MTV reality show The Hills, has officially entered the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race as a Republican outsider. After losing his home in the 2025 fires that devastated the city, Pratt has positioned himself as a messenger of change, taking shots at incumbent mayor Karen Bass and council member Nithya Raman. A recent UC Berkeley‑LA Times poll shows Pratt in a tight three‑way contest, trailing Bass with 26% support behind Pratt’s 22% and Raman’s 25%. Pratt’s campaign has out‑shined the other two in fundraising, raising $2.7 million between April and May—nearly ten times Bass’s haul and seven times Raman’s. Despite a strong social‑media presence and backing from former President Donald Trump, Pratt faces skepticism over his lack of city‑government experience, critics’ accusations that he’s an anti‑vaccine conspiracist, and the fact that Los Angeles has not elected a Republican mayor since 2001. Nonetheless, Pratt’s blend of celebrity notoriety, flashy adverts and red‑state rhetoric appeals to voters tired of the establishment, and the campaign continues to gain traction in a city where 65% of voters backed the Democratic challenger in the last presidential election. "The audience has been accustomed to want to be entertained," says USC professor Martyn Kaplan, “and a candidate who taps that desire is one to watch.”

Reality TV Villain Spencer Pratt Launches Bid to Become Los Angeles Mayor

Spencer Pratt, the 42‑year‑old former publicist who rose to fame as a villain on MTV’s The Hills, has announced his candidacy for mayor of Los Angeles. Pratt’s campaign appears to bring as much drama as the nights he spent on reality television.

From Reality TV to the City Hall Chime

Pratt first entered the public eye in 2007 when he joined the cast of The Hills, quickly becoming the show’s infamous antagonist. After the series ended in 2010 he appeared on a string of other reality programs, including Celebrity Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, while also running an online business selling crystals.

Entering the Mayor Half‑Circle

Spending the last year of his life a victim of the devastating fires in 2025 that destroyed his home, Pratt has turned public outrage into a political platform. He has focused his campaign on “fixing a broken Los Angeles”, describing the city as unsafe, unclean, and in dire need of mandatory drug treatment for the homeless population.

Polls, Funding and Political Positioning

A new UC Berkeley‑LA Times poll released on Thursday places Pratt in a tight contest with incumbent mayor Karen Bass (26%) and council member Nithya Raman (25%). Pratt boasts 22% support among likely voters.

Pratt’s fundraising efforts have eclipsed those of his two rivals. Between 19 April and 16 May he raised $2.7 million—nearly ten times what Bass raised in the same period, and about seven times more than Raman.

Criticism and Support

Plagued by criticism from both rival candidates, Bass has called Pratt “just a reality TV star with no governmental experience” and “operating out of anger.” Raman has denounced him as an anti‑vaccine conspiracist who “is not offering a realistic solution.”

In interviews Pratt defends his outsider status. “I may not have the experience, but I have the common sense to say this is not working,” he says.

Celebrity Politics: Past and Present

Pratt’s political messaging echoes a trend in American politics where von a celebrity background becomes an asset. American history puts Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Donald Trump in the same board of entertainment‑turned‑politicians.

USC professor Martyn Kaplan notes that the public now prefers “to be entertained.” “A candidate who can give you twists and turns is what voters want.”

Trump’s Endorsement and Its Weight

Former President Donald Trump recently spoke favorably about Pratt. “I’d like to see him do well. He’s a character,” the president said. Trump added, “I hear he’s a big Maga person. He’s doing well.”

Whether Trump’s comments will influence a Liberal‑leaning city remains unclear. Los Angeles County voters last year gave the Democratic challenger 65% of the vote, and Pratt is distancing himself from national partisan politics.

Outlook

Pratt’s campaign is fast becoming the focus of the primary discussion, even as political scholars caution about the leap from campaigning to long‑term governance. Despite his strong social media presence, economic support and celebrity gravitas, he faces an uphill battle in a city where a Republican mayor has not been elected for twenty‑plus years.