Americans across the political spectrum were stunned by President Donald Trump’s upset victory in 2016. Pundits, pollsters, and political insiders had largely failed to account for a powerful bloc of supporters who either stayed quiet about their views or were underestimated entirely — the “silent Trump voters.”Now, a decade later, some are wondering whether that same phenomenon might be happening in the Los Angeles mayoral race. Is there such a thing as a “silent Spencer Pratt voter”?The growing excitement and online buzz surrounding the former reality TV star’s campaign has sparked national headlines, particularly in the weeks since he turned a candidate debate with Mayor Karen Bass and city councilwoman Nithya Raman into must-see television.
While Pratt is running as an independent, he is a registered Republican. And in a city dominated by progressives, openly backing a conservative candidate, particularly one who is a firebrand, is frowned upon.
Pratt’s clever, creative, highly entertaining, and prolific ad campaign has captured the public’s imagination and thrust him into the spotlight.
The latest ad from the Pratt campaign taps directly into this dynamic. After class, a Pilates instructor pulls aside a co-worker and says, “Hey, I have to tell you something. Promise you won’t get mad?” Lowering her voice to a whisper, she confesses: “I’m voting for Spencer Pratt.”
