By Michael Phillips | CABayNews
Los Angeles — Spencer Pratt, the reality television figure best known for MTV’s The Hills alongside his wife Heidi Montag, announced on January 7, 2026, that he is officially running for Mayor of Los Angeles.
Pratt made the announcement at a “They Let Us Burn” rally in Pacific Palisades, marking the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic 2025 wildfires that tore through large swaths of the city, including the Palisades and Eaton fires. Pratt himself lost his home in the disaster, an experience that has become the emotional and political catalyst for his campaign.
From Celebrity to Challenger
Running under the slogan “Let’s make LA camera ready again,” Pratt is leaning into his celebrity background while framing his candidacy as a response to what he describes as government failure. Over the past year, he has emerged as a vocal critic of Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing city and state leadership of mismanagement before, during, and after the fires.
From forest management and utility oversight to evacuation failures and rebuilding delays, Pratt argues that Angelenos have paid the price for bureaucratic inertia and political complacency. His message echoes a broader center-right critique: that progressive governance in California has prioritized optics and regulation over preparedness, accountability, and results.
A Populist Message Rooted in Wildfire Anger
Pratt’s campaign themes center on public safety, emergency readiness, and restoring basic competence to city government. He has repeatedly pointed to the slow pace of rebuilding in fire-ravaged neighborhoods as evidence that City Hall has lost touch with residents’ day-to-day realities.
While critics dismiss his bid as a stunt, Pratt’s supporters argue that lived experience matters — and that losing a home to wildfire provides more credibility than decades in political office insulated from consequences.
Endorsement from Alex Villanueva
Pratt’s announcement gained immediate attention after former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva publicly endorsed him on X. Villanueva, a frequent critic of Democratic leadership in Los Angeles and a 2022 countywide candidate, called Pratt’s run “time for positive change.”
The endorsement graphic — paid for by Villanueva’s own 2026 sheriff campaign committee — underscores the emerging alliance between Pratt and law-and-order-focused critics of the city’s political establishment.
Pratt has also drawn supportive comments from conservative figures outside city politics, including Richard Grenell, further cementing his positioning as a populist outsider aligned with center-right frustration over California governance.
Long Odds, Real Attention
Los Angeles’ 2026 mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, with a primary scheduled for June 2, 2026, and a potential runoff in November. Mayor Bass is seeking reelection in a crowded field of more than 20 candidates, including former LAUSD superintendent Austin Beutner and housing advocate Rae Huang.
Pratt is widely viewed as a long-shot in heavily Democratic Los Angeles. Still, his sizable social media following, constant media presence, and ability to tap into wildfire anger give him something many challengers lack: attention.
His X account has already been rebranded for campaign purposes (“Pratt for Mayor 2026”), and his announcement post generated significant engagement within hours.
A Protest Campaign or Something More?
Whether Pratt’s run evolves into a serious electoral challenge or remains a protest candidacy remains to be seen. But his entry highlights a growing undercurrent in Los Angeles politics: deep frustration with leadership during crises and a willingness — even in a liberal stronghold — to consider unconventional alternatives.
For now, Pratt’s bid serves as both a personal reckoning with wildfire loss and a broader indictment of a city struggling to convince residents that it can still protect them when it matters most.
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