Reality television personality Spencer Pratt has declared his candidacy for Mayor of Los Angeles, making his announcement on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire. His campaign focuses on criticisms of the city's response to the fire, which affected his home. Concurrently, real estate developer Rick Caruso has announced he will not pursue campaigns for Los Angeles mayor or California governor, a decision that shifts the political landscape for the upcoming elections.
Spencer Pratt Enters Mayoral Race
Spencer Pratt, known for his appearances on reality television, announced his intention to run for Los Angeles mayor on Wednesday. The announcement was made at a "They Let Us Burn" event in Pacific Palisades, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire. Pratt, 42, stated his campaign objective is to address issues within Los Angeles politics, indicating a mission to "expose the system" and investigate "every dark corner of LA politics." He further remarked, "Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles," and "I'm done waiting for someone to take real action. That's why I am running for mayor." This marks Pratt's first bid for public office. Images posted by Pratt on his Instagram account depicted him signing documents; however, his filing had not been officially registered at the time of the announcement.
Wildfire Context and Criticisms
The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, affected the Pacific Palisades area and resulted in the destruction of Pratt's home, shared with his wife Heidi Montag. Pratt has previously expressed criticism regarding the response to the Palisades Fire by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Another significant incident, the Eaton Fire, occurred around the same period on the opposite side of the city. These fires collectively resulted in 31 fatalities and the destruction of over 16,000 homes and businesses.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the Los Angeles Fire Department's (LAFD) after-action report, intended to analyze the Palisades fire response. Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose district includes fire-impacted areas, raised these concerns. Reports indicated that multiple drafts of the report were edited to minimize the department's failures, a modification confirmed by Fire Chief Jaime Moore.
The Los Angeles Mayoral Landscape
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who won the 2022 election against Rick Caruso, is seeking re-election. The non-partisan mayoral primary is scheduled for June and is expected to feature a significant number of participants, with over a dozen individuals having already entered the race.
Several other individuals seeking or considering the mayoral office have also commented on the city's response to the fire:
- Austin Beutner: The former L.A. schools Superintendent, also running against Bass, has criticized the mayor's performance on the fire, citing a lack of responsibility for city failures.
- Rae Huang: A community organizer, has critiqued the mayor's approach regarding the fire response.
- Lindsey Horvath: The L.A. County Supervisor representing areas impacted by the Palisades fire, is currently considering a mayoral run. She has publicly mentioned listening to encouragement for her candidacy, citing a desire for different leadership.
Rick Caruso's Decision Not to Run
Billionaire developer Rick Caruso announced on Friday that he will not pursue campaigns for Los Angeles mayor or California governor, concluding months of speculation regarding his political future. Caruso cited "many heartfelt conversations" with his family as the basis for his decision. He stated his intent to continue public service without holding a political title, focusing on his nonprofit organization, Steadfast LA. Steadfast LA is dedicated to assisting with fire recovery efforts, including victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Caruso previously sought the Los Angeles mayoral office in 2022, spending an estimated $100 million on his campaign before ultimately losing to Karen Bass by nearly 10 percentage points. He has maintained public criticism of Mayor Karen Bass since his 2022 defeat, particularly concerning her administration's response to the Palisades fire. Political consultants Mike Murphy and Tim Rosales expressed surprise at Caruso's decision. Murphy indicated the decision was related to "family, quality of life" and not related to campaign winnability, noting strong polling for Caruso in both potential races. Rosales had received indications that Caruso was preparing for a gubernatorial run. Caruso's withdrawal potentially simplifies the field for the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race against incumbent Karen Bass.
Spencer Pratt's Background
Pratt gained public recognition in the mid-2000s as a cast member on MTV's The Hills. He and Heidi Montag married in 2008 and have two children. They have also appeared on other reality television programs, including I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here and the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother.