Spencer Pratt Campaigns in Rival Councilmember’s District Ahead of June 2 Los Angeles Mayoral Election
Why It Matters
With Los Angeles facing persistent voter frustration over homelessness, public safety, and the still-incomplete rebuilding effort following the 2025 Palisades wildfire, the city’s June 2 mayoral election is shaping up as a referendum on how the city is managed. California mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt is making a deliberate effort to expand his coalition beyond his core base, taking his campaign into neighborhoods that other candidates may have assumed were already spoken for.
What Happened
Reality television personality turned mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt held a community meet-and-greet Saturday at a Sherman Oaks home, spending more than two hours greeting supporters, posing for photographs, and engaging one-on-one with voters who waited in line under intense San Fernando Valley heat.
The location was notable: Sherman Oaks falls within the district represented by City Councilmember Nithya Raman, one of Pratt’s main rivals in the mayoral race. Pratt promoted the event through social media, drawing residents from across the broader Los Angeles area, including some who acknowledged they are ineligible to vote in the city election.
Pratt declined to give formal speeches or take press interviews at the event. Supporters dropped off mail ballots, collected yard signs, and grabbed coffee from a food truck parked outside the home, which is listed on rental platforms at roughly $16,000 per month.
Voter Concerns on Display
Attendees reflected a range of grievances common among Los Angeles residents dissatisfied with the city’s current direction. A Lake Balboa resident cited streets he described as littered with trash. A Sherman Oaks resident emphasized public safety and the ability of parents to walk children to school without fear. A Reseda resident voiced frustration over homelessness and illegal immigration.
“He is advocating for the safety and security of our families,” said Saba Lahar, a Sherman Oaks resident, shortly after speaking with Pratt at the event.
Even attendees from outside city limits showed up. Brian Rodda, who operates a food tour business and lives in West Hollywood — an independent municipality separate from the City of Los Angeles — said he supports a change in direction at City Hall despite being unable to cast a ballot. “Sadly, because I do live in West Hollywood, I cannot vote for him,” Rodda said. “But we certainly need a change.”
Where Pratt Stands in the Race
Pratt has positioned himself as an outsider challenger running against a political establishment he holds responsible for the city’s decline. He has directly blamed incumbent Mayor Karen Bass for the 2025 wildfire that destroyed large portions of Pacific Palisades, including Pratt’s own home. His policy platform centers on a stricter approach to law enforcement, a “treatment first” framework for addressing street homelessness among people with addiction, and a significant expansion of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Pratt has called for growing LAPD staffing to approximately 12,500 officers over the next decade, compared to the current force of roughly 8,600. At Saturday’s event, he told one supporter the city must “make sure all the laws are being enforced,” adding that “plenty of functioning cities enforce their laws.”
In current polling, Pratt trails Mayor Bass, who is seeking reelection, while trading second and third place with Raman depending on the survey. He delivered what observers described as a strong performance in a mayoral debate earlier this month and has led his opponents in recent fundraising disclosures. For a broader look at whether any of the leading candidates can realistically address the city’s structural problems, see this analysis of the mayoral field and L.A.’s enduring challenges.
What’s Next
Los Angeles voters head to the polls on June 2. The race features Bass, Raman, Pratt, and several other candidates, including Rae Huang, who has drawn attention from the city’s police union. If no candidate receives a majority, the top two finishers would advance to a November runoff. With less than three weeks remaining, Pratt’s strategy of targeting territory associated with a rival suggests the campaign is working to broaden its geographic and demographic reach before primary day.