Reality TV Star Spencer Pratt Surges in Los Angeles Mayoral Polls
Former reality television personality Spencer Pratt is experiencing a significant surge in the polls following his unlikely campaign to replace Karen Bass as Mayor of Los Angeles. Pratt, aged 42, officially announced his candidacy in January after publicly criticizing Bass's handling of the massive wildfires that devastated the city at the beginning of 2025.
From Television to Political Arena
Pratt's unexpected political career follows years in the public eye, most notably from his appearance on the popular MTV series The Hills, where he met his wife, Heidi Montag. However, recent polling data suggests his campaign may be more than just a publicity stunt.
A comprehensive poll conducted by the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs reveals that while Bass maintains a lead, Pratt is closing the gap. The survey shows Bass with 25 percent support among likely primary voters, while Pratt has secured second place with 11 percent backing.
Competitive Field and Undecided Voters
City Council member Nithya Raman, a longtime ally of Bass, placed a close third with 9 percent support. Pastor and housing advocate Rae Chen Huang and nonprofit executive Adam Miller tied for fourth position, each receiving 3 percent of voter support. Notably, 9 percent of participants indicated they would vote for a different candidate entirely.
The most striking finding from the UCLA poll is that 40 percent of respondents remain undecided about their choice, creating significant uncertainty just two months before the June primary election.
Expert Analysis of the Political Landscape
Zev Yaroslavsky, director of UCLA Luskin and a former elected leader in Los Angeles, emphasized the unusual nature of such high undecided numbers at this stage of the campaign. 'It is highly likely that this election will be decided in a November runoff,' Yaroslavsky stated. 'A lot can change between now and then, so it's a wide-open race.'
Los Angeles employs a unique voting structure where the top two candidates from the June primary advance to a November runoff, unless one candidate secures more than 50 percent of votes in the initial election.
Incumbent Challenges and Voter Sentiment
Mayor Bass, who won comfortably four years ago, now faces substantial challenges as her approval ratings have plummeted. Following the disastrous Palisades fire, Bass lost considerable support among constituents. Recent polling indicates 56 percent of voters view her unfavorably, compared to just 31 percent who view her favorably.
The UCLA Luskin poll surveyed 813 likely primary voters between March 15 and March 29 through both phone and online methods, with a margin of error of 4 percent. These findings were corroborated by a separate UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, which showed similar results with Bass at 25 percent, Raman at 17 percent, and Pratt at 14 percent.
Political Experts Weigh In
Dan Schnur, a politics professor at both UC Berkeley and Pepperdine University, described the polling results as potentially 'borderline catastrophic' for Bass's campaign. 'That she's having this much trouble against this field, against such a little-known field of opponents, bodes very, very poorly for her,' Schnur told The Los Angeles Times.
Schnur added that Bass's current position is somewhat protected by the absence of more established political figures who chose not to enter the race against her.
Personal Motivations and Campaign Dynamics
Pratt's campaign has been fueled by personal experience with the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles. Both he and his wife lost their home in the Palisades fire, and Pratt has frequently criticized Bass's leadership during and after the disaster. He credits his frustration with city officials as a primary motivation for entering the political arena.
Bass faced particular criticism for being on a diplomatic trip to Ghana when the fires ravaged her city, resulting in 12 fatalities and widespread neighborhood destruction. Her handling of recovery efforts has been consistently questioned by constituents and opponents alike.
As the June primary approaches, the Los Angeles mayoral race remains highly unpredictable, with a large bloc of undecided voters and an unexpected contender gaining momentum in what was initially considered a long-shot campaign.
