Spencer Pratt, the reality television personality known for his antics on “The Hills,” has failed in his improbable bid to become mayor of Los Angeles.
The Associated Press confirmed Monday that Pratt did not secure a spot in the November runoff election, leaving incumbent Karen Bass to face progressive city council member Nithya Raman.
Pratt’s campaign, endorsed by President Donald Trump, was a blend of celebrity appeal – amplified by AI-generated videos – and a raw expression of public frustration.
He relentlessly highlighted chronic issues plaguing Los Angeles, such as homelessness, crime, and urban decay, often declaring on the campaign trail, “Enough is enough.”
This focus starkly contrasts with the city’s global image of culinary delights, postcard scenery, and entertainment.
His political aspirations were reportedly ignited by personal tragedy, after his home was among thousands destroyed in last year’s devastating Palisades Fire.
“This is where I live,” Pratt stated in a campaign video, standing before a trailer on his property’s ruins.
“They let my home burn down. I know what the consequences of failed leadership are.”
This sentiment resonated with some Angelenos, mirroring broader dissatisfaction with Mayor Bass, who faced criticism for the slow pace of rebuilding and was abroad in Ghana when the blaze began.
However, reports later revealed Pratt was residing in the luxurious Hotel Bel-Air, not the trailer.
The official tallying of votes from the June 2 primary took days, a process typical in California that often fuels frustration. Pratt acknowledged the delay, posting photos outside city hall with the single word — “Patience.”
Despite his political inexperience, Pratt garnered support from some residents desperate for change.
No Republican has won a mayor’s race in Los Angeles since 1997, making his candidacy a steep climb.
Dennis Kamrany, a lifelong Pacific Palisades resident, expressed a desire for “someone that’s a fighter, that has energy, that’s young, that is talking about common sense policies,” adding, “What the hell do we have to lose? We’re already in the dumps. Give somebody else a shot.”
Conservative commentator Steve Hilton viewed Pratt’s candidacy, alongside his own, as a signal that California voters are seeking a departure from prevailing liberal governance.
Hilton stated, “We’ve got a failed and broken system and you’ve got a couple of outsiders who’ve never run for office before. This is our moment.”
However, the electoral math proved insurmountable for Pratt. Republicans face a significant disadvantage in Los Angeles, where they account for less than 15% of registered voters, and Democrats outnumber them nearly two-to-one statewide.
This demographic reality meant insufficient support for Pratt to oversee the city’s substantial $15 billion budget and 50,000 municipal workers.
The challenge mirrored that faced by billionaire Rick Caruso in 2022, who spent over $100 million, mostly his own money, in a mayoral race against Bass focused on public safety, ultimately losing by nearly 10 percentage points.
Not all shared the desire for Pratt’s leadership; Deanna Crane, 33, stated she wanted “anyone with a pulse other than Spencer Pratt” for mayor, ultimately voting for Raman despite her own dissatisfaction with Bass’s fire response.
Pratt’s public life has long been intertwined with celebrity. Rising to prominence on “The Hills” as Heidi Montag’s boyfriend, the couple embraced their roles as “fame-seeking television villains.”
They even published a guide titled “How to Be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture” in 2009, the year they married.
A relentless pursuit of headlines has marked his career.
He claimed responsibility for spreading rumors about a sex tape involving “The Hills” star Lauren Conrad, later denying it.
He and Montag filed for divorce a year and a half after marrying, only for Pratt to later admit it was faked to boost her fledgling music career. During their separation, he was also arrested in Costa Rica for attempting to board a flight with a firearm.
Beyond reality TV, his ventures included a memoir, “The Guy You Loved to Hate,” a rap song, “I’m a Celebrity,” and a company, Pratt Daddy, selling crystals claimed to have healing properties. He once spent $1 million on such crystals, with the company’s website claiming they helped heal Montag’s post-surgery pain “that even morphine could not relieve.”
After blowing through a reported $10 million net worth, Pratt and Montag faced backlash for accepting money from fans after the fire, Pratt insisting they were not wealthy.
He turned to TikTok videos for revenue, attempted to launch a reality show about their rebuilding, and encouraged fans to stream Montag’s 15-year-old album, “Superficial.” With support from figures like Paris Hilton, Alix Earle, and Flavor Flav, the album hit No. 1 on iTunes.
Pratt celebrated, quipping, “Who needs a house, who needs clothes, who needs anything but this level of clout, pop, superstardom?”
The next mayor will inherit a city grappling with significant challenges, from a falling population, reflecting frustration with taxes, traffic, and the cost of living.
While statistics suggest some headway on homelessness, makeshift encampments and rows of rusting RVs remain commonplace, and dirty, pocked streets and sidewalks abound. Meanwhile, Hollywood jobs have been decamping for years to more affordable filming locales, and the restaurant industry has been ailing. These deep-seated issues fueled a desire for radical change among some voters.
Susie Tho, 38, a Democrat, crossed party lines to vote for Pratt, initially apprehensive but won over by his “sharp and prepared” debate performance. “I just wanted a clean and safe street for my child to grow up in,” she explained, lamenting, “I miss the LA that I grew up in.” Her sentiment underscores the deep-seated frustration that Pratt, despite his unconventional background, managed to tap into.
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