The question everyone is asking right now is: did Spencer Pratt win? The former reality TV star turned political insurgent made headlines by transforming from a The Hills villain into one of the most talked-about mayoral candidates in Los Angeles history. Here is a full breakdown of where things stand after the June 2, 2026 primary election — and what comes next.
Who Is Spencer Pratt and Why Is He Running for LA Mayor?
Spencer Pratt first rose to fame on MTV’s The Hills in the late 2000s, where he became one of reality television’s most recognizable antagonists. But in January 2026, he announced a very different chapter — a run for Mayor of Los Angeles.
The catalyst was personal and painful. When the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire tore through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, it destroyed Pratt’s uninsured family home, which he shared with wife Heidi Montag and their children. Rather than retreat, Pratt went public — loudly and relentlessly — using his millions of social media followers to criticize Mayor Karen Bass, Governor Gavin Newsom, and California’s political establishment for what he called a catastrophic failure of leadership.
At the one-year anniversary demonstration called “They Let Us Burn,” held at the Pacific Palisades, Pratt officially announced his candidacy, declaring: “Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I’m done waiting for someone to take real action.”
The June 2, 2026 Primary: What Happened?
The Los Angeles mayoral primary took place on June 2, 2026 — yesterday — making this one of the most urgent political stories unfolding right now. The race became a nationally watched three-way contest between:
- Karen Bass — Democratic incumbent Mayor seeking a second term
- Spencer Pratt — Republican reality TV personality and wildfire victim turned political outsider
- Nithya Raman — progressive Los Angeles City Councilmember and Democratic Socialists of America-backed politician
Under Los Angeles election rules, if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two finishers advance to a runoff in the November 3, 2026 general election. Given that polls showed no candidate near that threshold, a runoff was widely expected.
Polls closed at 8:00 p.m. PT on June 2. Vote counting is ongoing, and the California Secretary of State’s Office is required to certify final tallies by July 10, 2026.
Did Spencer Pratt Win the Primary?
As of the time of publication, official certified results have not yet been declared. Los Angeles vote counting takes time due to mail-in and provisional ballots. However, here is what the pre-election data showed heading into Election Day:
The final UC Berkeley/Los Angeles Times poll, released just before the primary, showed an extraordinarily tight race:
- Karen Bass: 26%
- Nithya Raman: 25%
- Spencer Pratt: 22%
All three candidates were within the poll’s margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points — meaning the race was, statistically speaking, a dead heat.
Pratt himself was confident heading in. In a Fox & Friends appearance days before the vote, he declared: “I have a feeling God wants me to just win with 51% on June 2, and it’s over.” However, analysts noted that achieving an outright majority in Los Angeles — a city where over 55% of registered voters are Democrats — was an enormous ask for a Republican candidate.
The most likely outcome based on pre-election polling: a November runoff between the top two finishers, with Bass widely expected to be one of them. Whether Pratt or Raman claims the second spot is the central question voters and pundits are watching.
How Did Spencer Pratt Become a Serious Contender?
Spencer Pratt’s rise from long-shot celebrity candidate to legitimate top-three contender is one of the remarkable political stories of 2026. Several factors fueled his campaign:
Massive Social Media Reach
Pratt entered the race with millions of existing followers across Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). This gave his campaign a megaphone that most political newcomers simply do not have. His use of AI-generated advertising videos went viral and reached audiences far beyond traditional campaign outreach.
High-Profile Endorsements
Pratt secured the endorsement of President Donald Trump, a significant boost with Republican-leaning voters and conservative independents. He also received support from podcaster Joe Rogan, tech billionaire Elon Musk (who repeatedly reshared Pratt’s content on X to his 240 million followers), and conservative media figures including Laura Loomer and Ben Shapiro.
Wildfire Victim Credibility
Losing his home in the Palisades Fire gave Pratt a personal story that connected with thousands of displaced Angelenos. His Instagram posts featuring the charred remains of his property became rallying points for fire victims demanding accountability.
Karen Bass’s Vulnerabilities
Mayor Bass was abroad in Ghana when the January 2025 Palisades Fire broke out — a trip she later called a “mistake.” Her handling of both the wildfire response and LA’s chronic homelessness crisis left many voters angry, giving challengers like Pratt room to attack.
Fundraising Momentum
Pratt raised a reported $2.7 million in a single month, demonstrating that his campaign had moved beyond novelty and into serious electoral territory.
What Are Spencer Pratt’s Key Policy Positions?
Despite his celebrity background, Pratt ran on a platform of concrete — if controversial — policy positions:
- Wildfire Preparedness: A streamlined emergency command structure giving more authority to first responders and removing bureaucratic “middlemen”
- Homelessness: A hardline approach focused on drug treatment and promises to clear encampments across the city
- Fiscal Accountability: Criticism of LA’s nearly $1 billion budget deficit and calls for responsible spending
- Public Safety: A law-and-order platform calling for stronger policing and safer streets
- Political Transparency: Real-time public data on city spending and emergency response
The Political Landscape: Can a Republican Win in Los Angeles?
One of the central questions surrounding Pratt’s campaign has always been whether a registered Republican can win the mayoralty of one of America’s most deeply blue cities. With over 55% of registered voters identifying as Democrats and fewer than 15% as Republicans, the math is steep.
Pratt acknowledged this openly, telling Fox & Friends: “I’m a registered Republican, but my supporters are all Democrats, because Los Angeles is all Democrats.”
His strategy mirrored former President Trump’s 2024 playbook — appealing to young men, disaffected voters, and those frustrated with the political establishment. Analysts noted that Pratt’s social media presence gave him credibility in what experts call the “manosphere,” the online community of male influencers and their audiences.
However, Trump’s public support of Pratt was seen as a potential double-edged sword. While it energized the Republican base and gave Pratt national attention, some observers believed it could push independent and centrist Los Angeles voters toward Bass or Raman.
Caitlyn Jenner, whose son Brody starred on The Hills alongside Pratt, offered a telling assessment: “I just don’t feel like the Democrat machine here in Los Angeles can ever let Spencer Pratt become mayor.”
Who Is Pratt Running Against?
Karen Bass is a former U.S. Congresswoman who became LA’s mayor in 2022 — making history as the second Black person ever elected to the office. Her campaign has leaned on endorsements from prominent Democrats including former Vice President Kamala Harris. Bass’s vulnerabilities center on the wildfire response, the city’s homelessness crisis, and a growing budget deficit.
Nithya Raman is a progressive City Councilmember and the first DSA-backed politician elected to the LA City Council. She entered the race in early 2026 as a former Bass ally before breaking with the incumbent, arguing that Bass was not moving fast or boldly enough on housing, homelessness, and social justice. Her campaign consolidated significant progressive Democratic support as the primary approached.
What Happens Next?
Here is the roadmap for the LA mayor’s race going forward:
- Vote counting continues — Mail-in and provisional ballots are still being tallied
- Final results certified by the California Secretary of State by July 10, 2026
- If no candidate reached 50% (highly likely based on polling), the top two finishers advance to the November 3, 2026 general election runoff
- The November runoff will decide the next Mayor of Los Angeles
If Pratt advances to the November runoff, he will face an uphill but not impossible battle in a city hungry for change.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Race Matters Nationally
The Los Angeles mayoral race has become a referendum on Democratic governance in urban America. With homelessness, wildfire preparedness, housing costs, and public safety all at crisis points, LA has become a symbol of what critics of both the left and right say is failed city leadership.
Pratt’s campaign — unconventional, social media-driven, and built on personal grievance turned political purpose — reflects a broader national trend of outsider candidates challenging established political machines. Whether or not he ultimately wins, his run has permanently altered the conversation about Los Angeles politics and who gets to participate in it.
Whether Spencer Pratt makes it to the November runoff or not, this race is far from over — drop your prediction in the comments and stay tuned as results continue to roll in!