Former reality TV personality Spencer Pratt has entered the Los Angeles mayoral race as a Republican, though he says his political outlook has been shaped by an unexpected figure.
While he’s been described by some as a “MAGA Republican,” Pratt has pushed back on that label. He argues that he isn’t running as a party candidate at all, and says his aim is to “represent all of Los Angeles”.
Pratt first became widely known for his on-screen villain persona on early-2000s series The Hills. He says his decision to pursue public office followed the destruction of his home in last year’s catastrophic L.A. wildfires.
He’s seeking to defeat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the 2 June election. Bass drew heavy criticism over how the fires were handled, a response she later described as “botched.”
Although Pratt is a registered Republican, he has drawn an unusual comparison for his political trajectory—former Democratic President Barack Obama.
In an interview with NBC Los Angeles last week, Pratt said he sees similarities between Obama’s early work and his own background.
“I have two awards from my community, President Obama actually didn’t even have awards when he was a community organizer,” he said.
“He was able to become a senator and then a president for eight years. So, I feel like him and I have the same experience.”
Pratt later told CBS News that Obama had “no experience of running the whole entire country” prior to winning the presidency.
The contest has effectively shaped up as a three-way fight, with Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman also seen as leading contenders.
As the campaign has heated up, the candidates have traded jabs. Raman referred to Pratt as a “MAGA Republican,” a characterization he immediately rejected.
He said: “I represent all of Los Angeles. I do not represent a party.
“I don’t have a campaign manager. I don’t have campaign consultants. There’s no political party backing me.”
In a separate CBS News interview, Pratt claimed his base of support is largely Democratic, saying that the people around him—including his family—are Democrats.
He has also predicted a decisive result, insisting he won’t just win but will clear the 50 percent mark at the primary.
Under Los Angeles city and county election rules, a candidate can win outright at the primary stage by receiving more than half of the vote.
If no one passes that threshold, the two highest finishers advance to a general election in November.
Pratt told CBS News he believes his path to victory is avoiding partisan battles and focusing on shared local concerns.
He said: “I’m probably going to win with 51 percent on 2 June , because I don’t do a political message.
“I don’t do national politics. I don’t do tribal politics. I don’t talk about other states. I’m localized. I just want to fix our streets, get the lights on. I want people to feel safe.