Spencer Pratt

We're living their experience right now.

Their experience has failed us.

Fresh off his performance on the Los Angeles mayoral debate stage last week, former reality TV star Spencer Pratt dominating the political and cultural conversation.

The outsider now seeing the prospects of his unlikely victory rising, with prediction markets signaling his surge in the race.

Pratt, best known for his role as the villain on MTV's reality series The Hills,

Entering the mayoral race after his home burned down in the 2025 Palisades fire, pointing to what he calls overwhelming failures by city officials to prepare for and respond to the disaster.

Since then, Pratt's campaign has evolved into a broader referendum on politics as usual in Los Angeles, with the candidate hammering city leaders over homelessness, public safety, affordability, and basic city services.

He has been especially critical of the millions spent on homeless outreach and nonprofit contracts.

Though he is a registered Republican, Pratt has tried to avoid becoming a national political proxy, keeping his message almost entirely local and casting his campaign as a revolt against the city hall establishment.

While no formal post-debate polls have been released, on Polymarket, Pratt has gone from just a 13% chance of winning the race to 30% as of last night.

Current Mayor Karen Bass, rising as well since the debate, up from 27% to 49%, largely thanks to the complete collapse of City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who has fallen from 55% to 22%.

On Kalshi, Bass at 51% and Pratt at 30%.

While not a substitute for polling, betting markets suggest traders now see Pratt as Bass' closest challenger heading into the final stretch.

Mayor Bass may be coming to the same realization.

On Saturday, the mayor pulling out of the next televised forum, set for this coming Wednesday.

Pratt previously declining an invitation, citing scheduling conflicts.

As Pratt has taken a higher profile, he's facing off with a national media organization over claims of biased edits.

Pratt's sitting down with CBS News late last week for an interview on the burned out lot where his home once stood.

The outlet condensing the interview into a short package featuring clips from Pratt's reality TV villain days and its own political analysis.

Pratt first made a name for himself as the resident villain on MTV's hit show, The Hills.