Los Angeles, CA – Spencer Pratt, the former reality television star best known for his role on MTV's 'The Hills,' has thrown his hat into the ring for the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race, promising a unconventional approach to tackling the city's pressing issues. In an exclusive interview with NBC News correspondent Morgan Chesky, Pratt outlined his motivations, drawing from the recent devastation of wildfires and the ongoing challenges facing the sprawling metropolis. The announcement comes at a time when Los Angeles grapples with climate crises, housing shortages, and political fatigue, raising eyebrows among political observers who question whether a celebrity outsider can navigate the complex landscape of city governance.
Pratt, 39, rose to fame in the mid-2000s as the brash, often controversial antagonist on 'The Hills,' a docu-soap that chronicled the lives of young aspiring professionals in Los Angeles. The show, which aired from 2006 to 2010, captured the glamour and drama of Hollywood's underbelly, with Pratt's on-screen persona marked by high-profile feuds and a penchant for luxury. Off-camera, Pratt has reinvented himself as a family man and entrepreneur, co-running a crystal healing business with his wife, Heidi Montag, another 'Hills' alum. Their life in Santa Barbara, just north of Los Angeles, has kept them somewhat removed from the city's daily grind, but Pratt insists the recent wildfires have reignited his passion for public service.
The interview, conducted on December 15, 2023, at a hillside overlook in the Hollywood Hills, provided Pratt's first detailed platform. 'I've watched Los Angeles burn, literally and figuratively, for too long,' Pratt told Chesky, referencing the devastating wildfires that scorched over 100,000 acres in the greater LA area during the fall of 2023. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the blazes, fueled by dry conditions and high winds, displaced more than 20,000 residents and caused an estimated $2 billion in damages. Pratt, whose family home in Santa Barbara was threatened by similar fires in previous years, positioned himself as a voice for environmental resilience.
'The wildfires aren't just a natural disaster; they're a wake-up call for how we've mismanaged our city,' Pratt said, emphasizing his plans to integrate alternative therapies like crystal energy into disaster preparedness programs. Critics, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, have dismissed such ideas as fringe, with Solis stating in a recent press conference, 'We need proven policies, not New Age experiments, to protect our communities.' Pratt, undeterred, argued that traditional approaches have failed, pointing to the city's $1.5 billion annual budget shortfall and rising homelessness rates, which topped 75,000 individuals as per the 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.
Pratt's candidacy builds on a lineage of celebrity politicians in California, evoking memories of Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2003 gubernatorial run. Unlike Schwarzenegger, who leveraged his action-hero status and Republican ties, Pratt enters as an independent with no prior political experience. He announced his intentions via social media on November 28, 2023, posting a video from his crystal shop: 'LA needs a fresh vibe. I'm running to heal the city, one quartz at a time.' The post garnered over 500,000 views within hours, highlighting his enduring pop culture relevance despite 'The Hills' ending over a decade ago.
During the NBC interview, Chesky pressed Pratt on specifics. 'What about the basics – traffic, affordability, public safety?' the correspondent asked. Pratt responded, 'Look, I've lived the LA dream and the nightmare. Gridlock? We'll incentivize carpooling with wellness retreats. Housing? Convert abandoned lots into eco-communes.' He cited the city's ongoing battles with urban sprawl, noting that Los Angeles County's population of 10 million strains infrastructure built for a bygone era. Pratt also touched on the fentanyl crisis, which claimed 1,200 lives in LA County in 2022 alone, according to health officials, proposing community healing circles as an adjunct to law enforcement efforts.
Political analysts offered mixed reactions. Democratic strategist Ace Smith, who advised former Mayor Eric Garcetti, told The Appleton Times, 'Pratt's run could siphon votes from more traditional candidates, but his lack of policy depth might limit appeal.' On the other side, Republican consultant Jessica Millan Patterson suggested, 'In a city weary of career politicians, novelty has value – think Trump in 2016.' Current Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat serving since 2022, has focused on homelessness, declaring a state of emergency in June 2023 and allocating $1.3 billion to the issue. Bass's office declined comment on Pratt's bid, but sources close to her campaign described it as 'amusing but irrelevant.'
Pratt's personal evolution adds layers to his narrative. After 'The Hills,' he and Montag faced financial ruin, filing for bankruptcy in 2010 amid lavish spending. Their comeback, documented in the 2019 reboot 'The Hills: New Beginnings,' showcased a more mature Pratt, advocating for mental health and sobriety. 'Reality TV taught me about public scrutiny; now I want to use that resilience for real change,' he said in the interview. Montag, who underwent 10 plastic surgeries in 2010, has been a vocal supporter, posting on Instagram, 'Proud of my crystal king stepping up for LA!'
The wildfires provide stark context for Pratt's environmental focus. The 2023 season, marked by the aggressive Bobcat Fire remnants and new outbreaks in the San Fernando Valley, led to air quality alerts affecting 18 million residents. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported over 5,000 structure threats, with Governor Gavin Newsom deploying 2,000 National Guard members. Pratt, who volunteered with relief efforts in Santa Barbara during the 2017 Thomas Fire – California's largest ever at 281,000 acres – drew parallels. 'I saw families lose everything; we can't wait for Sacramento to fix this,' he told Chesky.
Yet, questions linger about Pratt's viability. To run, he must collect 4,000 signatures by March 2026, per city election rules, and navigate a field that includes potential heavyweights like City Council President Nury Martinez, despite her 2022 scandal resignation, or philanthropist Rick Caruso, who narrowly lost to Bass in 2022. Pratt dismissed fundraising concerns, boasting a network from his MTV days. 'I've got influencers, not lobbyists,' he quipped, alluding to endorsements from fellow reality stars like Audrina Patridge.
Beyond fires, Pratt addressed LA's cultural shifts. The city's film industry, hit by the 2023 Hollywood strikes that idled 160,000 workers for 118 days, faces competition from streaming giants. 'We need to protect the dream factory,' Pratt said, proposing tax breaks for local productions tied to green initiatives. Economists at the University of Southern California estimate the strikes cost $5 billion, exacerbating unemployment at 5.2% in LA County as of late 2023.
As the campaign heats up, Pratt's bid underscores a broader trend of populist outsiders challenging establishments. In California, where voters approved Proposition 1 in March 2024 to fund mental health housing with $6.4 billion in bonds, public frustration simmers. Whether Pratt's crystal-infused vision resonates remains to be seen, but his entry has already sparked debates on celebrity in democracy.
Looking ahead, Pratt plans town halls starting in January 2024, beginning in Venice Beach, a nod to 'The Hills' filming locations. 'This isn't a stunt; it's my life's work,' he insisted to Chesky. With the primary election set for June 2026, the race promises drama worthy of reality TV. For now, Los Angeles watches as one of its own sons seeks to rewrite the script.
In the aftermath of the wildfires, recovery efforts continue, with federal aid of $500 million allocated by FEMA. Pratt's platform, while unorthodox, taps into a desire for innovation amid crisis. As he put it, 'LA's magic is fading; let's recharge it.' Whether voters buy into his glow remains the city's next big plot twist.