Spencer Pratt rose to fame as the antagonist on MTV’s reality television show, The Hills, but has powered his Los Angeles mayoral campaign with civic outrage after his house burned to the ground in the Palisades fire last year. Now, critics are saying the political newcomer may be moving too far, too fast, with rivals exposing cracks in his proposals and inconsistencies in his statements. But his fan base and social media supporters keep growing, aided in part by Elon Musk‘s repeated reposts and replies on X. A registered Republican, Pratt, 42, has successfully channeled his anger and frustration into broadsides against current Mayor Karen Bass (D), Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), and other Democrats who have managed the city for years.
Spencer Pratt speaks during an appearance on Fox & Friends at Fox News headquarters, Jan. 28, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)
Popular AI-generated videos depicting Pratt battling Bass with lightsabers or portraying himself as Batman descending onto a burning Los Angeles have racked up millions of views online. His campaign has embraced an aggressive digital strategy, leaning heavily on viral clips and anti-establishment messaging to reach voters frustrated by crime, homelessness, and public safety concerns.
