Former 'The Hills' Star Spencer Pratt Launches Bid for Los Angeles Mayor

Pratt, a vocal critic of Mayor Karen Bass' response to the Palisades Fire, vows to clean up corruption and fraud in city government

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Spencer Pratt, known for his role on the reality TV show "The Hills", has officially launched his campaign for Mayor of Los Angeles. Pratt, whose home was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades Fire, has been a vocal critic of Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom's handling of the disaster. Pratt has promised to tackle issues like corruption, illegal immigration, public safety, and fraud if elected.

Why it matters

Pratt's outsider candidacy represents a challenge to the established political machine in Los Angeles, which has long been dominated by Democratic leaders. His campaign could shake up the 2026 mayoral race and give voters an alternative to the incumbent Mayor Bass, who has faced criticism over her response to the Palisades Fire.

The details

Pratt officially kicked off his mayoral campaign on Wednesday, packing a room with supporters and outlining his vision for the city. He vowed to "make sure we do this right" and deliver "real recovery" if another crisis hits LA. Pratt touched on issues like corruption, illegal immigration, public safety, and fraud, promising to bring in criminal investigators to audit city departments.

  • In January 2025, Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag lost their home in the Palisades Fire.
  • In August 2025, Pratt traveled to Washington D.C. as Republican Senators announced a congressional investigation into the Palisades Fire.
  • In January 2026, Pratt officially announced his mayoral campaign at the Palisades Fire anniversary rally.

The players

Spencer Pratt

A former reality TV star on "The Hills" who is now running for Mayor of Los Angeles, positioning himself as a critic of the city's leadership's response to the Palisades Fire.

Karen Bass

The incumbent Democratic Mayor of Los Angeles, who Pratt has heavily criticized for her handling of the Palisades Fire and other issues facing the city.

Gavin Newsom

The Democratic Governor of California, who has also faced backlash over the state's response to the Palisades Fire.

Alex Villanueva

The former Los Angeles County Sheriff, who has endorsed Pratt's mayoral campaign and believes he can shake up the city's political establishment.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to make sure we do this right. The city doesn't need another politician — brokering deals and trading favors. We need leadership that shows up, takes responsibility and delivers results.”

— Spencer Pratt (Daily Caller)

“Well this is an important run for LA because for decades the mayor of LA, board of supervisors, you name it, they've all been basically anointed candidates from the political machine and that has led to the decay and basically degradation of LA City. What Spencer Pratt represents is an honest person prepared for the job who's going to take a fresh look at everything and actually get the people's interest ahead of the politicians and machine politics and that is key to success as mayor of LA.”

— Alex Villanueva, Former Los Angeles County Sheriff (Daily Caller)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Pratt's outsider candidacy represents a challenge to the political establishment in Los Angeles, as he promises to tackle issues like corruption, fraud, and the city's response to crises like the Palisades Fire. His campaign could shake up the 2026 mayoral race and give voters an alternative to the incumbent Mayor Bass.