Major Democrat Donors Break Ranks to Fund Spencer Pratt's LA Mayoral Bid
Intra-Party Split Detected
Prominent Democratic donors like the Sabans are financially backing Spencer Pratt despite his conservative platform and Trump endorsement, breaking with party orthodoxy
Left says
- •Pratt's campaign represents dangerous celebrity populism that prioritizes personal grievance over substantive policy experience and qualifications for governing
- •The candidate's background as a reality TV villain who admits to being 'selfish, undisciplined and unprincipled' demonstrates unfitness for public office
- •Los Angeles needs experienced leadership with a comprehensive political vision, not an opportunistic campaign built on one person's anger about losing their home
- •The crossover Democratic donor support reflects misguided frustration rather than genuine belief in Pratt's ability to address the city's complex challenges
Right says
- •Pratt's fundraising success and crossover Democratic support prove his message of accountability and reform resonates across party lines with frustrated voters
- •The candidate's outsider status and willingness to challenge the political establishment offers a refreshing alternative to failed career politicians
- •Media attacks focusing on his scripted reality TV persona rather than his current policy positions demonstrate elite bias against authentic populist candidates
- •His personal experience losing his home in the fires gives him genuine understanding of government failures that career politicians lack
Common Take
High Consensus- Spencer Pratt has raised significantly more money than incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in recent months
- The January 2025 Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of homes including Pratt's family residence
- Major Democratic donors Haim and Cheryl Saban have contributed to Pratt's campaign despite his conservative platform
- Los Angeles faces ongoing challenges with homelessness, public safety, and government accountability that concern voters across the political spectrum
The Arguments
Right argues
Pratt's ability to raise $2.72 million in one month compared to incumbent Mayor Bass's $283,000 demonstrates genuine grassroots momentum and cross-party appeal that transcends traditional political boundaries.
Left counters
Fundraising success often reflects celebrity name recognition and wealthy donor networks rather than substantive policy support, and doesn't translate to governing competence or understanding of complex municipal issues.
Left argues
Pratt's own memoir describes him as 'selfish, undisciplined and unprincipled,' admitting to stealing friends' photos for tabloid money and reckless spending, which demonstrates fundamental character flaws incompatible with public service.
Right counters
Media critics are deliberately conflating Pratt's scripted reality TV persona with his actual character, ignoring that 'The Hills' was acknowledged by producers and cast as heavily scripted entertainment rather than authentic behavior.
Left argues
Los Angeles faces complex challenges requiring experienced governance and comprehensive policy knowledge, not a campaign built primarily on one person's anger about losing their home in a fire.
Right counters
Pratt's personal experience with government failures during the fires gives him authentic understanding of bureaucratic incompetence that career politicians lack, while his outsider status offers fresh perspective on entrenched problems.
Right argues
The coordinated Hollywood celebrity opposition to Pratt's campaign, including attacks from figures like Drew Carey and Lisa Rinna, reveals establishment panic about a genuine populist challenge to their preferred political order.
Left counters
Celebrity criticism reflects legitimate concerns about qualifications rather than establishment conspiracy, as entertainment figures recognize the difference between scripted drama and real governance responsibilities.
Left argues
Democratic donors supporting Pratt likely reflects misguided frustration with current leadership rather than genuine belief in his governing abilities or policy vision for addressing homelessness, housing, and public safety.
Right counters
Cross-party donor support proves Pratt's message of accountability and reform resonates with voters who prioritize results over partisan loyalty, suggesting his appeal extends beyond celebrity novelty to substantive concerns.
Challenge Questions
These questions target genuine internal contradictions — meant to provoke honest reflection.
Right asks Left
“If Pratt's reality TV background is disqualifying due to scripted villainy, how do you reconcile supporting career politicians whose public personas may be equally constructed, and why should voters trust that political experience automatically translates to effective governance when current leadership has failed on major issues?”
Left asks Right
“If Pratt's campaign is genuinely about reform and accountability rather than personal grievance, why does his political platform seem to center primarily on his fire experience rather than comprehensive policy solutions, and how does his admitted past behavior of being 'selfish and unprincipled' demonstrate the character transformation necessary for public service?”
Outlier Report
Left Fringe
Hollywood celebrities like Lisa Rinna and Drew Carey making dramatic public statements against Pratt represent about 15% of the left - entertainment industry figures whose opposition may seem elitist and out-of-touch to working-class voters.
Right Fringe
BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler portraying this as a major political earthquake and suggesting Hollywood opposition proves Pratt's viability represents about 20% of the right - media personalities who amplify every anti-establishment narrative regardless of actual electoral prospects.
Noise Assessment
Moderate noise level - the celebrity drama and reality TV angle generates social media engagement, but the underlying question of outsider versus experienced candidates reflects genuine public debate about political leadership.
Sources (5)
<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=66831084&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0" /><br /><br /><p>Hollywood is ramping up its criticism of Spencer Pratt, and BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler believes it’s a sign that his Los Angeles mayoral campaign is gaining real traction.</p><p>“The Democrats are so scared of Spencer Pratt’s strategy. And you combine that with the most recent fundraising numbers — in the last month, Spencer Pratt has raised 10 times as much money as Karen Bass,” Wheeler explains.</p><p>Pratt has raised $2.72 million in the last month, while Mayor Bass (D) raised $283,000.</p><p>“The tide has turned towards Spencer Pratt. That amount of money combined with this strategy, this brilliant political strategy that Spencer Pratt is now engaging in — giving Democrats in L.A. this off-ramp to vote for him,” Wheeler says.</p><h3></h3><br /><span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span><p>And the Democrats are so scared that they have “unleashed their big guns,” which is Hollywood.</p><p>“Hollywood is the Democrats' secret weapon,” she explains, recalling that “very cringey video that celebrities put together during COVID.”</p><p>“Celebrities are what the Democrats think are their most effective influential tool. You saw this with the Kamala Harris campaign,” she adds, before playing a clip of reality star Lisa Rinna telling a reporter she doesn’t want a “reality star” to be mayor.</p><p>“We’ve already done that. We’re not going to do that again,” Rinna said.</p><p>“Listen, I’m a reality person,” she continued. “You wouldn’t want me as mayor. … I just think we did that. Let’s have somebody that’s already been mayor. The mayor of San Jose or whoever. I don’t even know.”</p><p>“This is what the Democrats think their big guns are,” Wheeler comments. “You know, their move of desperation.”</p><p>Drew Carey also threw out an opinion on Pratt, writing in a post on social media: “Anyone who votes for, or endorses Spencer Prattfall for Mayor of LA needs to get their head out of their ass. I understand being angry/unsatisfied, but at least get behind someone competent and not some serial scammer without a soul or moral compass. F**k this guy already.”<br /></p><p>Pratt responded in his own post on X: “Isn't it weird how the two comedians histrionically lashing out against me are both in the 'Epstein files'? What are the odds?”</p><p>He attached a screenshot of an email mentioning Carey from the files.</p><p>“Let me tell you what is happening here. The Democrats are so scared. They’re so desperate because they can’t run on any policy. They can’t run on Karen Bass’ record. They can’t run on Nithya Raman’s ideology,” Wheeler says.</p><p>"So what they do instead, as their sort of final move — this is one week before the election … they try to use famous people to invoke groupthink among voters,” she adds.</p><h2>Want more from Liz Wheeler?</h2><p>To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, <a href="https://get.blazetv.com/wheeler/?utm_source=theblaze&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=article_shortcode_lizwheeler" target="_blank">subscribe to BlazeTV</a> — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.</p>
<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/the-one-big-liberal-media-lie-about-spencer-pratt-that-no-one-is-mentioning.png?id=66820142&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C0%2C1%2C0" /><br /><br /><p>Spencer Pratt is liberal Los Angeles’ favorite new villain.</p><p>The former "The Hills" star became an unlikely political gadfly after his house burned down in the January 2025 Palisades Fire. Ever since he launched his increasingly high-profile mayoral campaign, Hollywood’s liberal elite and the prestige media can’t resist conflating the man with the heel he played on the MTV series.</p><p class="pull-quote">'That whole plot was scripted.'</p><p>But just because it's called "reality TV" doesn't mean it's real.</p><p>Apparently the smart set now needs a refresher in what it likes to call "media literacy."</p><h2>Rube tube</h2><p>In late April, Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" called Pratt "a candidate who makes white women over 40 go 'Oh yeah! That guy ... ew,'" while <a href="https://x.com/TheDailyShow/status/2048855203605090740?s=20" target="_blank">splicing together</a> clips from the 2000s hit.</p><p>Host Ronny Chieng described Pratt as exhibiting "TV villain behavior."</p><p>Rolling Stone referred to Pratt as a villain several times in its <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/spencer-pratt-the-hills-los-angeles-mayoral-race-1235567677/" target="_blank">piece</a> on Pratt, quoting several lines from the show as evidence of his character.</p><p>Same goes for "nonprofit & nonpartisan" outlet <a href="https://calmatters.org/commentary/2026/04/spencer-pratt-la-mayor-race/?taid=64c9e6f2-0e66-4a14-b7c2-211ef7c5c8cc" target="_blank">Cal Matters</a>, which said that being "a villain on a reality TV show" and having one's house burn down are not qualifications to become mayor of Los Angeles.</p><p>None of the 42-year-old candidate's detractors seem to have considered what most of us find obvious: "The Hills" was made up, and Pratt was playing a role. </p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/shows/sara-gonzales-unfiltered/karen-bass-roasted-over-plan-for-free-dental-care-for-homeless-meth-addicts" target="_blank">Karen Bass roasted over plan for free dental care for homeless meth addicts</a></strong></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="da39e" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=66820308&width=1245&height=700&quality=50&coordinates=0%2C101%2C0%2C19" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Charley Gallay/Getty Images</small></p> <h2>Curtain call-out</h2><p>For those who require proof, the show — which drew in <a href="https://archive.nytimes.com/mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/the-hills-draws-48-million-on-tv-18-million-online/" target="_blank">6 million viewers</a> at its height — exposed its own artifice in its 2010 finale, with star Brody Jenner watching as the <a href="https://youtu.be/HZPR4xKSXI4" target="_blank">backdrop literally pulled away</a> to reveal a set, complete with producers and lighting. Jenner's co-star then came out of a car that was shown to have driven away just seconds before.</p><p>So scripted was "The Hills" that producers even shot an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmYSxrgdFg4" target="_blank">alternate ending</a>.</p><p>Pratt's wife, Heidi, has also copped to the show's lack of reality. </p><p>"That whole plot was scripted," she <a href="https://www.distractify.com/p/is-the-hills-scripted" target="_blank">said</a> about a storyline involving her job promotion. </p><p>"I pretend-worked there, so it was obviously a pretend promotion," she noted.</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/spencer-pratt-cookies" target="_blank">Jimmy Kimmel's sister-in-law slammed with backlash for reportedly bullying local business — over Spencer Pratt cookies</a></strong></p> <p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube"> <span class="rm-shortcode" style="display: block; padding-top: 56.25%;"></span> </p> <h2>Cuba libre</h2><p>Those scorning Pratt for his fictional villainy might also be surprised by the truth about other well-known "Hills" plots. Spencer dating Audrina? Whitney becoming Lauren's boss at Teen Vogue? "<a href="https://www.thethings.com/the-hills-faked-jobs-lauren-conrad-audrina-patridge/" target="_blank">Totally fake</a>."</p><p>In typical heel fashion, Pratt seems to relish the charges of villainy — even using them against his opponent, Mayor Karen Bass (D). </p><p>When former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Rinna suggested Pratt's reality TV background disqualified him for office, Pratt <a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2059352118256194022?s=20" target="_blank">shot back</a>, "Hey Lisa, if you're against me because I was on a TV show in my 20's, wait til you learn what Karen Bass was doing in her 20's."</p><p>Pratt was referring to Bass’ <a href="https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/karen-bass-biden-venceremos-brigade" target="_blank">involvement in the Venceremos Brigade</a>, a far-left activist group tied to communist Cuba during the 1970s. The organization organized trips for young American radicals to work and train in Fidel Castro’s Cuba at the height of the Cold War, drawing everyone from Maoists to self-described revolutionaries into the orbit of the regime.</p><p>Bass has acknowledged traveling to Cuba multiple times with the group as a young activist, though she has downplayed suggestions that she held any leadership role.</p><p><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em><em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" target="_self">Sign up here</a></em><em>!</em></p>
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has received donations from some of Hollywood’s most prominent Democrat supporters despite running on a platform that leans heavily on conservative talking points. It was revealed earlier this month that major Democrat donors Haim and Cheryl Saban, billionaires who have a major financial impact on the party, donated the ...
Former reality television star Spencer Pratt is doubling down on his insurgent Los Angeles mayoral campaign, telling Fox & Friends on Thursday that frustrated voters across the political spectrum are rallying behind his message of public safety, homelessness reform, and government accountability. Pratt, who has surged into the spotlight as a long-shot challenger to embattled ...
Reality show villain and Donald Trump–endorsed Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has turned his bitter grievances and dark fantasies into a viable campaign. But LA needs a political vision larger than one celebrity’s personal ambition and rage.