Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star and ex-Republican, is running for mayor of Los Angeles in the June 2, 2026 primary election. He announced his candidacy on January 7, 2026, marking the one-year anniversary of the 2025 wildfires that destroyed his home in Pacific Palisades. Pratt criticized Mayor Karen Bass's handling of the disaster recovery, saying, "the most heartbreaking part of the last year wasn’t being displaced or losing everything I own, it was the realization that all of this was preventable" [1, 2].
Pratt is currently polling second behind incumbent Karen Bass and ahead of council member Nithya Raman in the race, which features 13 candidates competing to replace Bass. He campaigns on addressing slow recovery from disasters, homelessness, the cost-of-living crisis, and what he calls the city's general decline. Pratt leverages social media, fundraising, and debate skills to gain traction in the crowded field amid a $1 billion city budget deficit [1, 3].
Former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Pratt on May 20, calling him a "big MAGA person" and a "character." Trump said, "I’d like to see him do well. I don’t know him. I assume he probably supports me" [1]. He also criticized California's election system, stating, "The votes are rigged. You have a really rigged vote in California...It’s a rigged system" [2].
Mayor Karen Bass responded sharply to the endorsement. She accused Trump and Pratt of wanting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to "invade our city and kidnap our neighbors," adding, "I stood up to ICE to protect our communities" [1]. Pratt disputes being solely aligned with Trump's base, highlighting a focus on local issues despite Trump's characterization of him as a "big MAGA person" [1, 2].
The wildfires that destroyed Pratt's home and thousands of others in Los Angeles in January 2025 remain a central issue in the campaign [1, 2]. The June 2 primary will determine if Pratt advances to the November general election against Bass or other challengers [3].
