Spencer Pratt's Fundraising Surge Narrows Gap with Mayor Bass

The race for Los Angeles mayor has intensified as reality television star Spencer Pratt secures a dramatic fundraising surge, nearly closing the gap with incumbent Democrat Karen Bass. According to recent campaign disclosures, Pratt has amassed approximately $2.7 million in donations between April 19 and May 15, a sharp increase from the half-million dollars he raised in the preceding months. Bass, seeking her second term in one of the nation's most liberal jurisdictions, has collected roughly $2.8 million over the course of her two-year campaign. In terms of immediate liquidity, Pratt currently holds $1.42 million compared to Bass's $1.32 million, while Bass has secured 8,490 individual contributions, including 328 at the maximum limit of $1,800.

The competition extends to a third candidate, Councilmember Nithya Raman, a Democrat who has raised about $931,000 in the latest reporting period and holds $1.02 million in cash on hand. Raman's campaign distinguishes itself through a different funding profile; a spokesperson noted that she qualified for maximum matching funds, a status unavailable to her opponents. "While our opponents are funded by corporate Super PACs and MAGA donors from outside this city, our campaign is powered by the people who actually live here, work here, and are fighting to stay here," the spokesperson stated. Raman emphasized that her administration would serve Angelenos rather than powerful external interests attempting to maintain the status quo at City Hall.

The financial dynamics of the race reveal significant geographic disparities in donor support. Raman's team claims that 45 percent of Pratt's contributions originated from outside California, whereas only 11 percent of her own did. Furthermore, just 18 percent of Pratt's donations came from within the city limits. Despite these financial challenges, recent polls indicate that Bass maintains a steady lead in the city's jungle primary, where the top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. However, Pratt's ability to disrupt a potential two-way race between liberal candidates underscores the strength of his insurgent campaign.

Pratt, a former cast member of the reality series *The Hills*, has centered his platform on the destruction of his home in the 2025 Palisades fire and the city's ongoing homelessness crisis. Although he runs as a Republican, Pratt has not fully embraced the MAGA movement, a nuance that may be crucial for voters in the traditionally liberal metropolis. This distinction has not deterred high-profile political interest; reports suggest President Donald Trump is considering an endorsement of Pratt. A Republican insider told Rob Shuter of Naughty But Nice Substack that "Trump loves celebrity candidates, and Spencer knows exactly how to dominate headlines."

The primary is scheduled for June 2, with the general election set for November 3 if no candidate achieves an outright majority. Current polling suggests the race will likely proceed to a runoff, a scenario that could alter the ideological landscape of the city's leadership. While Bass remains the favorite to win, the influx of outside capital and the strategic positioning of both challengers have injected a new level of volatility into the contest.

On Wednesday, at a press event held on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews, the President confirmed that the concept of endorsing the reality television star has indeed been a subject of conversation. Speaking directly about the former Hills cast member, he stated, "The idea of endorsing him has absolutely been discussed," and expressed a clear desire for Pratt to find success.

When asked if he saw a resemblance between himself and Pratt, considering their shared backgrounds in reality television, the President responded with uncertainty regarding their personal connection. "He's a character," he remarked. "I don't know - I don't know him, I assume he probably supports me. Does he support me?"

A reporter present at the event responded to the President's query by saying, "I think so." The President then added that he had heard Pratt is a significant supporter of the MAGA movement, concluding with the assessment, "He's doing well."

Despite the high-profile praise, Pratt chose to downplay the endorsement in an interview with TMZ. Addressing the expectations surrounding his campaign, the former Hills star said, "Everybody wants me to succeed because LA is the most important city in the country." He emphasized that his primary focus remains on a specific demographic, stating, "The only support I need is from moms that wanna feel safe in Los Angeles. I'm laser-focused on that.