Spencer Pratt could upend the LA mayoral race 

Mayoral elections tend to be sleepy affairs. The contest in Los Angeles is anything but. 

Former reality television star Spencer Pratt, a Republican running in this nonpartisan election, has turned what might have been a predictable race into a genuinely competitive one. His campaign ads have racked up tens of millions of views and sparked a national conversation, injecting volatility into an otherwise conventional contest.

Pratt is tapping into frustration with the state of the city — particularly the sluggish rebuilding effort following the Palisades fire. He is also channeling broader dissatisfaction with quality-of-life issues like homelessness, crime and the cost of living, which continue to weigh heavily on Angeleno voters.

These concerns were front and center during last week’s debate, where Pratt, Mayor Karen Bass, and City Councilmember Nithya Raman “slugged it out.” The debate effectively narrowed the race to two credible candidates — Pratt and Bass — as Raman “came off as inexperienced, touchy, and unprepared” according to the Los Angeles Times. 

For his part, Pratt displayed a noteworthy mix of confidence and message discipline for a political newcomer. His attacks on Bass and Raman were pointed, but more importantly, he returned to a central argument: Los Angeles needs a change from Bass’s leadership and the governing approach it represents.

It was not all good for Pratt. Bass put up a solid fight, often appearing more fluent on policy specifics. The Times noted that Pratt’s mockery of Bass and Raman could be seen “as possibly sexist.” That said, the debate offered Pratt a chance to build on the attention........

© The Hill