Spencer Pratt Rises Into L.A. Mayor Top Tier After 6,845-Structure Palisades Fire
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · May 21
Spencer Pratt Rises Into L.A. Mayor Top Tier After 6,845-Structure Palisades Fire
13 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · May 21
Polls show Spencer Pratt, 42, has a strong chance to finish in the top two in Los Angeles’s June 2 mayoral primary after turning his post-fire anger into a citywide campaign.
The January 2025 Palisades fire destroyed Pratt’s home and his parents’ house among 6,845 structures, and he has since blamed city leadership for failed preparedness, using that grievance to fuel his outsider message.
Pratt has outpaced rivals in fundraising, drawn backing from entertainment heavyweights including Haim Saban and Lucian Grainge, and won praise from Trump-aligned figures even as he downplays his Republican registration.
His platform centers on tougher policing and homeless encampment sweeps, including expanding the police force to 12,500, but analysts say a November runoff would be difficult in a city where 55% of voters are Democrats and under 15% are Republicans.
Is an AI-fueled, meme-based campaign rewriting the playbook for how political outsiders can gain traction?
As California's new AI laws take effect, could a viral 'slop' campaign face unexpected legal challenges?