Reality television star Spencer Pratt has launched a campaign for mayor of Los Angeles, vowing to “expose the system”.
His longshot bid for city hall comes on the anniversary of a wildfire that destroyed his home and became one of California’s most destructive blazes on record.
Pratt, 42, made the announcement while speaking at a “They Let Us Burn” rally organised by residents who lost houses in the Palisades Fire.
The protest marked a year since the fire ignited in the Pacific Palisades on 7 January 2025, tearing through the wealthy coastal community tucked between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Another blaze, the Eaton Fire, sparked hours later on the other side of the city. In total, 31 people were killed and more than 16,000 homes and businesses were destroyed.
Pratt posted photos on his Instagram page showing him signing what appears to be official campaign paperwork, although his filing was not yet official.
“Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles,” he told Wednesday’s demonstration, “and I’m done waiting for someone to take real action. That’s why I am running for mayor.
“But let me be clear, this just isn’t a campaign. This is a mission, and we are going to expose the system.
“We are going into every dark corner of LA politics and disinfecting the city with our light.”
He and his wife, former reality TV star Heidi Montag, lost their Pacific Palisades home in the fire.
Pratt has since emerged as a vocal critic of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom over their handling of the disaster.
Pratt rose to fame in the mid-2000s as a cast member on MTV’s Laguna Beach spin-off The Hills, where his relationship with Montag became a central storyline.
The couple wed in 2008 and have two children.
They later appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here and the UK edition of Celebrity Big Brother.
Despite his fame, Pratt is a first-time candidate who faces long odds in a crowded field for June’s non-partisan mayoral primary.
Bass, who won the mayoralty in 2022 after defeating real estate developer Rick Caruso, is seeking re-election.
More than a dozen other candidates have entered the race.
LOS ANGELES, January 8, 2025
Spencer Pratt Enters LA Mayoral Race, Promises to ‘Expose the System’
Table of Contents
The reality star and vocal critic of city leadership is launching a longshot bid for mayor following the anniversary of a devastating wildfire.
- Spencer Pratt, known for his role on MTV’s “The Hills,” announced his candidacy for Los Angeles mayor on Wednesday.
- The announcement came during a rally marking one year since the Palisades Fire, which destroyed his home.
- Pratt has been publicly critical of Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom’s response to the disaster.
- More than a dozen candidates are vying for the mayoral seat in the June non-partisan primary.
Los Angeles just got a whole lot more…interesting. Spencer Pratt, the reality television personality famous for his appearances on “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills,” has officially thrown his hat into the ring for mayor of Los Angeles, promising to “expose the system.” Pratt’s campaign for mayor centers on a desire for change within the city’s political landscape.
The Fire That Fueled a Campaign
Pratt, 42, made his announcement at a “They Let Us Burn” rally held by residents who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire. The rally commemorated the one-year anniversary of the blaze, which ignited on January 7, 2025, in the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood, nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The fire quickly spread, becoming one of California’s most destructive on record.
Hours after the Palisades Fire began, another fire, the Eaton Fire, erupted on the opposite side of the city. Combined, the two fires resulted in 31 fatalities and the destruction of over 16,000 homes and businesses.
Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, also a reality television star, lost their home in the Palisades Fire. Since then, Pratt has become a vocal critic of the response to the disaster, specifically targeting Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“Business as Usual is a Death Sentence”
“Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles,” Pratt declared to the crowd at Wednesday’s demonstration. “And I’m done waiting for someone to take real action. That’s why I am running for mayor. But let me be clear, this just isn’t a campaign. This is a mission, and we are going to expose the system. We are going into every dark corner of LA politics and disinfecting the city with our light.”
Pratt first gained notoriety in the mid-2000s as a cast member on MTV’s “The Hills,” where his tumultuous relationship with Montag was a central storyline. The couple married in 2008 and now have two children. They have also appeared on international reality television programs, including “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here” and “Celebrity Big Brother” (UK).
A Crowded Race
Despite his celebrity status, Pratt faces an uphill battle in the June non-partisan mayoral primary. Current Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who defeated real estate developer Rick Caruso in 2022, is seeking re-election. More than a dozen other candidates have already entered the race, making it a highly competitive field.
Pratt posted photos on his Instagram page showing him signing what appeared to be official campaign paperwork, though his filing was not yet official as of Wednesday.
