Spencer Pratt Eliminated From Los Angeles Mayoral Race After Falling to Third Place

Spencer Pratt's bid to become the next mayor of Los Angeles has officially come to an end after the former reality television star finished third in the city's mayoral primary election, narrowly missing a spot in the November runoff.

With more than 92% of expected votes counted, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass remained in first place with approximately 34.3% of the vote, while Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman secured second place with around 28.5%. Pratt finished close behind at 25.8%, according to reported election results.

Under California's top-two primary system, only the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. As a result, Bass and Raman will face off in the November 3 mayoral runoff, while Pratt's campaign comes to a close.

Early Lead Slips Away

Election night initially appeared promising for Pratt. Early vote counts showed him holding second place, raising the possibility that he could advance to the general election despite entering the race as a political outsider with no previous government experience.

However, as additional mail-in ballots were processed over the following days, the race shifted dramatically. Raman steadily gained ground and eventually overtook Pratt for the second runoff position.

Political observers noted that the change reflected a familiar trend in California elections, where later-counted mail ballots often favor more progressive candidates. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as a "red mirage," occurs when early results create one impression before the complete vote count paints a different picture.

By the time the latest vote totals were released, Raman had established a lead large enough to secure her place in the runoff.

National Attention and Political Controversy

Pratt's campaign attracted an unusual amount of national attention for a local mayoral race.

High-profile political figures from across the ideological spectrum commented on his candidacy throughout the campaign. The race became even more controversial after President Donald Trump reacted to Pratt's drop in the standings.

Following the release of updated vote totals, Trump criticized the election process on Truth Social, claiming the outcome was impossible and suggesting the election had been manipulated.

Election officials, however, emphasized that the counting process followed standard California election laws. State regulations allow properly postmarked mail ballots to be counted even if they arrive after Election Day, leading to vote totals changing over several days as ballots continue to be processed.

No evidence of election misconduct has been presented by election authorities.

A Campaign Born From Personal Loss

Pratt's political journey began after the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfire in January 2025 destroyed his family home.

The tragedy dramatically altered his public focus. He became an outspoken critic of local and state leadership, arguing that government failures contributed to the severity of the disaster and slowed recovery efforts.

Over the following year, Pratt frequently criticized Mayor Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, eventually turning that activism into a formal political campaign.

On January 7, 2026, exactly one year after the wildfire, Pratt officially announced his run for mayor, framing the campaign as a mission to challenge what he described as a broken political system.

The announcement marked a surprising shift for the former star of MTV's The Hills, who became known for reality television fame rather than public service.

The Issues at the Center of Pratt's Campaign

Throughout the race, Pratt focused heavily on some of Los Angeles' most visible challenges.

Homelessness

Pratt frequently argued that the city's homelessness programs were failing residents and taxpayers.

He proposed cutting funding for existing homelessness-focused nonprofit organizations and redirecting resources toward law enforcement and treatment facilities. He also supported stricter enforcement of public-space regulations and mandatory rehabilitation programs for individuals struggling with addiction.

Public Safety

Crime and policing were central themes of Pratt's campaign.

He promised to increase funding for the Los Angeles Police Department, address officer shortages, and crack down on organized retail theft and illegal street takeovers.

Pratt also advocated stronger cooperation with federal immigration authorities and pledged increased security around religious institutions facing safety concerns.

Emergency Preparedness

Using his own wildfire experience as an example, Pratt argued that Los Angeles needed a major overhaul of its emergency response systems.

He called for a comprehensive review of disaster preparedness, streamlined decision-making during emergencies, and reduced bureaucracy for residents rebuilding after natural disasters.

Infrastructure and Government Reform

Pratt also campaigned on improving basic city services.

He promised to repair damaged roads and sidewalks, clean public spaces, eliminate wasteful government spending, and increase oversight of city contracts.

Among his proposals was a commitment to oppose future Los Angeles Department of Water and Power rate increases unless efficiency improvements could first be demonstrated.

Animal Welfare

One of the more unusual elements of Pratt's platform focused on animal shelters.

He frequently criticized the city's handling of animal welfare and promoted a highly publicized plan aimed at improving shelter conditions, reducing euthanasia rates, and expanding support for animal rescue efforts.

An Unconventional Campaign Style

While his policy proposals generated attention, Pratt's campaign strategy often received even more coverage.

Rather than relying heavily on traditional political advertising, he embraced social media and digital content to reach voters.

The campaign became known for its creative and sometimes bizarre use of artificial intelligence-generated videos. Some campaign clips featured Pratt portrayed as Batman fighting political opponents, while others showed him in science-fiction-inspired scenarios battling city leaders.

These videos regularly went viral online, helping Pratt attract attention far beyond Los Angeles.

He also favored direct communication through social media platforms, podcasts, radio appearances, and televised debates, often delivering blunt criticisms of city leadership.

The strategy helped him build a passionate following among voters frustrated with the political establishment.

A Campaign That Fell Short

Despite the national headlines, viral content, and strong early showing, Pratt ultimately fell short of securing a place in the runoff election.

His campaign demonstrated that celebrity recognition and social media influence can play a significant role in modern local politics. Yet it also highlighted the challenges political outsiders face when attempting to translate online attention into enough votes to win major public office.

One of the campaign's most memorable moments was Pratt's pledge that he would leave Los Angeles if voters chose not to elect him mayor. Whether he follows through on that promise remains to be seen.

For now, Los Angeles voters will turn their attention to the November 3 runoff between Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman, while Pratt's unlikely political experiment becomes one of the most talked-about stories of the 2026 election cycle.