Reality TV Star Spencer Pratt Shakes Up California Primary Elections

From The Hills to City Hall

California voters are heading to the polls today in what has become one of the most unpredictable primary elections in recent memory, with former "The Hills" star Spencer Pratt polling at 22% in the Los Angeles mayoral race, just behind incumbent Mayor Karen Bass at 26% and City Councilmember Nithya Raman at 25% . Pratt has centered his campaign on homelessness, crime, fire preparedness and the cost of doing business in Los Angeles after the Pacific Palisades fire destroyed his home .

While Pratt is only the latest in a long line of outsider candidates seeking to shake up City Hall, he has name ID and a narrative tied to the city's recent trauma: His home was destroyed in the Palisades fires, something he blames squarely on Bass . Los Angeles mayoral elections are nonpartisan, and if no candidate wins more than 50% in Tuesday's primary, the top two finishers advance to a November runoff .

Mathew Littman of political strategy firm HowLitt credits Pratt with understanding how to break through with a communications message, something many Democrats do not. "People were not paying attention. Spencer Pratt has forced people to," he said . The reality star has positioned himself as a pro-business candidate, advocating for stronger film tax credits and streamlined regulations for builders.

Gubernatorial Race in Chaos

The California governor's race has been thrown into complete disarray following sexual misconduct allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell that are damaging his hopes of winning the California governor's race, with former allies revoking their endorsements and a growing list of prominent Democrats telling him to withdraw . Swalwell, who was once a front-runner, dropped out of the race on April 12 because of allegations of sexual misconduct .

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra now looks poised to finish as one of the front-runners, with Democrats crediting several factors for Becerra's momentum: Swalwell's exit from the primary in mid-April; Becerra's experience running statewide; voter skepticism over billionaires like Tom Steyer; and the potential superlative that Democrats could elect their first Latino governor in the Golden State in more than a century .

None of the contenders has taken a significant lead in polls, but political strategists say Steyer and Becerra have seen the biggest post-Swalwell bump. The pair were tied at 13 percent each in polling shared by the California Democratic Party before the debate, leading fellow Democrats but trailing the two top Republicans . Republican Steve Hilton, buoyed by an endorsement from President Donald Trump and a much shorter list of intra-party rivals, is well positioned to claim one of the top two spots .

High Stakes for Democratic Control

Democrats, who have run the state for years, are publicly agonizing over the possibility they may be shut out of the general election in November. California has an unpredictable top-two primary system that puts all candidates on one ballot, with only the top two vote-getters advancing to November, regardless of party. Despite their party's dominance in the state, Democrats fear their crowded pool of candidates will divide the party's vote and allow two Republicans to advance .

Together, the candidates had received about $168 million in campaign contributions by April 18, but most of it — $133.9 million — is in the coffers of the Steyer campaign. The main donor was Steyer himself, who contributed $133.7 million . The massive spending reflects the high stakes in America's most populous state, where the governor's office serves as a launching pad for national political ambitions.

What's Next

The jungle primary system means today's results will determine which candidates have the resources and momentum to compete in November's general election. For Los Angeles, Pratt's surprising surge demonstrates how celebrity status and authentic grievances can disrupt traditional political calculations. His campaign has tapped into widespread frustration with city leadership on core issues like public safety and basic services.

In the governor's race, the post-Swalwell scramble has created opportunities for candidates like Becerra to consolidate Democratic support, while Republicans hope their smaller field gives them an advantage in advancing multiple candidates. The outcome will shape California's political landscape for the next four years and potentially influence national Democratic politics as the party seeks fresh leadership beyond the Biden era.