Spencer Pratt was a noughties reality TV villain. Can he convince Los Angeles to make him mayor?

"Spencer Pratt, best known for his role on the 2006 reality TV hit The Hills, is seeking to tap into the deep frustration of many Angelenos over a searing cost-of-living crisis and the slow pace of recovery following last year's deadly wildfires. Recent polls have placed him second in the race, trailing the current mayor, Karen Bass, but ahead of the progressive two-term city councilor Nithya Raman. He's received an endorsement from Joe Rogan and praise from Elon Musk and Fox News hosts all while his ads dominate TikTok and X feeds around the US."

"The nonpartisan race is not a typical Democrat-versus-Republican battle, but a referendum on the state of the city. And polling has found that the majority of residents feel it is headed in the wrong direction. Los Angeles faces major challenges, including an intractable homelessness crisis with nearly 44,000 unhoused people. It remains one of the most expensive cities in the US for renters and homebuyers, and is short 270,000 affordable housing units."

"Hollywood is struggling and the Trump administration's deportation campaign has hit the region hard. All the while, Los Angeles is battling a budget shortfall and preparing for large-scale global events, including the World Cup this summer and the 2028 Olympics. A YouTube video shows Spencer Pratt and his trailer in the burnt-out lot where his home once stood."

"While Bass has touted an effective homelessness strategy as among her achievements as mayor, including a 17.5% reduction in people living on the streets, many An"

Spencer Pratt, known from The Hills, is seeking Los Angeles mayoral office against incumbent Karen Bass and city councilor Nithya Raman. Polls place him second, behind Bass and ahead of Raman, with endorsements and media attention boosting his visibility. The race is framed as a referendum on the city’s direction rather than a standard partisan contest. Los Angeles faces major pressures including a homelessness crisis with nearly 44,000 unhoused people, high costs for renters and homebuyers, and a shortage of about 270,000 affordable housing units. The region also faces economic strain from Hollywood challenges and federal deportation efforts, alongside budget shortfalls and preparations for major global events like the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

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