Pratt’s Bold Bid for LA Mayor: A Two-Front War Against Incumbent and Challenger
In the fast-paced world of Los Angeles politics, Spencer Pratt is waging a determined campaign on multiple fronts, aiming to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass while simultaneously challenging leftist contender Nithya Raman. The upcoming jungle primary on Tuesday will see all three candidates vying for a spot in the November runoff, with the top two vote-getters advancing.
Pratt, a figure known for his reality TV past, has strategically shifted his focus. Initially targeting what he perceives as Mayor Bass’s shortcomings in office, he has now pivoted to a direct assault on Raman. In a recent social media video, Pratt declared that a vote for Raman would be a “wasted vote,” urging her potential supporters to consider backing him instead.
“You and I are in the same place,” Pratt stated in the video, addressing those contemplating a vote for the socialist candidate. “We all agree that Karen Bass has failed the city as mayor and we need change.”
While acknowledging that Raman might appear as an alternative to some, Pratt was quick to criticise her performance in debates, describing her as having “collapsed” and accusing her of engaging in livestreams with “hateful, radical antisemite Hasan Piker.” He presented prediction markets as evidence that Raman has little to no chance of advancing to the runoff, suggesting that any vote cast for her would effectively be a vote for Bass.
“At this point, voting for Nithya is a wasted vote. It’s me versus Karen, it’s change versus more of the same,” Pratt asserted. He further elaborated, “It’s no longer a question about me or Nithya or Karen, Nithya has no path to victory now.”
Pratt also questioned Raman’s qualifications, labelling her an “outsider with an east coast degree to come rewrite the city.” He contrasted this with his own background, mentioning a political science degree from USC, which he noted was destroyed in the Palisades fire. He criticised Raman for her perceived lack of accomplishments during her six years on the city council, her unpopularity within her own district, and her relatively recent arrival in Los Angeles in 2013. “All of us know, Nithya doesn’t have it in her,” he added, pointing out that Raman has indicated she plans to retire from politics if she loses the election.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Raman for comment on Pratt’s statements.
Pratt’s campaign has recently received a notable boost with praise from Donald Trump Jr. on his podcast. While Pratt has largely distanced himself from direct endorsements from President Trump, the First Son’s comments have brought a new level of attention to his candidacy.
“Spencer Pratt seems like he has a lot of common sense in there,” Trump Jr. remarked, drawing a parallel between Pratt’s trajectory and that of his father, the former President. “A reality TV star from two decades ago, and yet, you probably wouldn’t have thought that a reality star from two decades ago would be the President of the United States, so,” he continued. “I think, again, his videos are great, they have no answer for them, other than, you know, having the leftist media shame this guy for speaking the truth and be right about basically everything. So I hope he wins, I hope he can change California.”
Over the weekend, Pratt employed a strategy that has previously contributed to his public profile, taking to Twitter to criticise Nithya Raman. He retweeted a post from Raman encouraging people to vote, which featured a video of the candidate smiling and flipping her hair to the soundtrack of Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten.” Pratt’s accompanying comment read, “The only thing worse than The Hills is Nithya’s campaign.”
Polling Data and Potential Runoff Scenarios
A recent poll conducted by the California Post indicates a tight race, with Pratt holding a slim lead at 30.1 percent. Mayor Bass is closely trailing at 29.5 percent, while Raman is in third place with 23.4 percent.
Given these figures, it is unlikely that any candidate will secure the necessary 50 percent of the vote to win outright in the primary. This scenario points towards a runoff election in November between the top two contenders.
Beyond support from prominent figures like Trump Jr., Pratt has also garnered endorsements from several high-profile celebrities, including Joe Rogan and Paris Hilton. In an episode of his popular podcast, Rogan expressed his support, stating, “I can’t vote for you, but I’m rooting for you.” Although Rogan relocated from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, in 2020, he added, “If I lived in Los Angeles, no question whatsoever, I would vote for you.” Paris Hilton, the reality star and heiress, has also shown her support, commenting “Spencer for Mayor” on Pratt’s Instagram campaign video, which featured footage of the trailer he has been living in since the Palisades Fire destroyed his home.
While Pratt’s current standing in the primary appears strong, the race remains highly competitive. The California Post poll, which shows him with a razor-thin 0.6 percent lead over incumbent Mayor Bass, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent. This means the lead is not definitive.
Even if Pratt successfully advances to a runoff election, he faces a significant hurdle. It is anticipated that the majority of Raman’s voters would likely shift their support to Bass, and vice-versa, in a head-to-head contest. Should Pratt defy these expectations and make it to the general election, he will then confront the formidable challenge of campaigning in a city that generally leans heavily Democratic.
