Spencer Pratt says his “common sense” pitch and criticism of Mayor Karen Bass could sway undecided voters in Los Angeles’ June 2 race.
A reality TV star’s bid for Los Angeles mayor is turning into a referendum on how voters judge Mayor Karen Bass as the city rebuilds from last year’s deadly wildfires.
Former “The Hills” personality Spencer Pratt. 42. told CBS News’ Adam Yamaguchi in an exclusive interview that he believes his “common sense” approach can resonate with voters who are tired of what he calls politician-speak.. Pratt—who says he has no prior political experience—also argued that authenticity. rather than conventional political messaging. is central to his pitch.. In his view. voters respond to an outsider who speaks “from the heart. ” and who does not present himself as a career officeholder.
Pratt is polling second in the Los Angeles mayoral race. according to the interview coverage. and he would become the first Republican mayor of the city since 2001. when Richard Riordan left office after two terms.. The campaign message. he said. is built on the idea that Los Angeles is ready to remove Bass. who has faced heavy criticism for her response to the city’s devastating wildfires last year.
That criticism has become a central part of Pratt’s appeal.. He said he does not rely on polling as a compass for strategy because. in his words. his supporters are not fielding calls from pollsters.. Still. he pointed to a UCLA poll suggesting 40% of voters remain undecided. portraying that uncertainty as evidence that the mayor’s record is vulnerable.
Pratt specifically tied the undecided block to what he described as a record that is “the worst in LA history. ” a line he used to frame Bass as the candidate voters are prepared to move past.. He also said his personal connection to the crisis is not theoretical; he was among the celebrities who lost their homes to the Palisades Fire. which he referenced in explaining why he believes his perspective can’t be faked.
The interview followed a heated debate earlier this week that included Pratt. Mayor Bass. and Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman.. Pratt said the forum and his campaign have helped viewers see him in a different light than the role that made him famous as the show’s resident villain.. He acknowledged that the persona that first boosted his popularity was. in his description. strategic and tied to his reality-TV career. but he argued that his current run is driven by a different set of motivations.
Asked about comparisons to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani—who previously upset former Governor Andrew Cuomo to become mayor—Pratt drew parallels centered on a promise of transportation improvements.. He said Mamdani has promised free buses and that his own platform includes free metro service. but Pratt argued that the policy similarities stop there.
In his remarks. Pratt said the political and social environment in Los Angeles differs sharply from New York’s. contending that residents have already undergone a “socialist experiment” for several years and that it has not worked in Los Angeles.. He also suggested that the reason his message is spreading on social media is that it is “the truth” and therefore more persuasive to voters seeking something that feels grounded rather than rehearsed.
Pratt also addressed comparisons that frequently appear in campaigns—especially when an outsider challenges established political figures.. He referenced Barack Obama, saying Obama was a community organizer before serving in the U.S.. Senate and highlighting that Obama had “no experience running the whole entire country” before seeking the presidency.. Pratt used the comparison to argue that passion. humility. and a willingness to admit what one does not know can matter as much as formal experience.
For Pratt. leadership is tied to getting results for a city he described as full of capable residents who. in his words. want to support a plan to make Los Angeles the “number-one city in the world.” He positioned himself as someone offering a candid. emotionally driven argument that he says grew directly out of what happened during the wildfire disaster and what he believes resulted from failed leadership.
The election date is June 2. If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, the top two finishers will move to a runoff scheduled for Nov. 3, extending a campaign season already shaped by debate performances and high levels of voter uncertainty.
Beyond the day-to-day campaign messaging. the contest also spotlights how Los Angeles voters may weigh security. public services. and disaster recovery against broader ideological disagreements.. Pratt’s focus on authenticity and his insistence that the wildfire response should be judged harshly suggests his strategy is aimed at converting skepticism—especially among undecided voters—into support before the June 2 vote.
Spencer Pratt Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass UCLA poll wildfire response city council debate June 2 election