GOP candidate Spencer Pratt gains momentum in L.A. Mayoral Race following strong debate, praise from public figures

OAN Staff Jenna Lee
12:20 PM – Friday, May 8, 2026

In a standout performance that widely exceeded expectations, Republican Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt garnered significant praise following the most recent televised debate.

Viewers and political analysts concluded that the former reality TV personality-turned-political hopeful secured a decisive victory as he faced off against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman.

The debate highlights sparked a wave of social media engagement, notably catching the attention of Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Arizona senator. McCain took to X to express her enthusiastic support for Pratt’s performance, further fueling the momentum surrounding his unconventional campaign.

“This is not hyperbole. Spencer Pratt is the blueprint for how my generation of older millennials needs to communicate and present their ideas and campaign messaging when running for office. He is 10/10 no notes. Absolute raw talent. Killed the debate,” she said.

Other observers, including Townhall columnist Dustin Grage, highlighted a pivotal moment in the debate where Pratt’s brevity stood in stark contrast to his opponents.

“Wow, the moderator asked a simple yes or no question in the LA Mayor’s Debate. Should noncitizens be able to vote in local elections? Spencer Pratt: ‘No.’ Karen Bass: Word salad. Nithya Raman: Word salad,” said Grage.

 

While Bass and Raman offered lengthy explanations that many dismissed as “word salad,” Pratt delivered a direct “no” to a binary question regarding illegal alien voting policies.

This concise response resonated with commentators who felt the other candidates were clearly avoiding a straightforward stance, positioning Pratt as the most transparent participant on the stage during that specific exchange.

Notably, Bass faced a significant “slip up” when she struggled to provide a clear answer on illegal alien voting policies. When asked a direct yes-or-no question regarding whether illegals should be permitted to vote in local elections, Bass declined to give a definitive response, stating instead that “it depends.”

Bass also drew heavy fire for her defense of the city’s response to the January 2025 Palisades wildfires. During a heated exchange, she said that being in Ghana for a presidential inauguration when the fires broke out was one of the “worst moments” of her life.

However, her attempt to explain the failure of aerial firefighting efforts by citing “high wind speeds” was publicly challenged by Pratt, who highlighted that weather station data proved the winds were not as severe as she claimed.

This response even led to Pratt labeling her an “incredible liar” on stage, a moment that went viral and intensified the narrative that her administration was unprepared for the disaster. “Yes. Mayor Of LA just said fire f–ks instead of fire trucks on live TV. And yes, the fact that she left town before it burned down is reason enough for her to never ever serve this city again,” said one online user.

“Pratt was surprisingly good and I thought he would be an unserious bro, but his grief that everyone is making fun of is actually real. It was clear that Bass and Raman are the unserious ones about improving the quality of life for citizens of LA. Pratt won my vote,” wrote another online user.

“Spencer Pratt, with the little experience he has, surprisingly outperformed Bass and Raman, which really says a lot about their inability to lead. He is new to politics, they have been years and years in politics and in charge. Yet, the policies they propose they haven’t done. Pratt shows he is a person of action. Bass and Raman show they are inept,” a third person added.

Bass has faced immense scrutiny and ongoing criticism regarding her administration’s management of the devastating wildfires last year. The disaster, which claimed several lives and caused billions of dollars in property damage, has become a central point of contention for her detractors.

The majority of Angelenos (Los Angeles residents) have argued that the city’s emergency response and mitigation efforts were insufficient, leading to significant public frustration over the scale of the destruction and the tragic loss of life during the crisis.

According to an online poll following the debate, an overwhelming 88% of readers chose Pratt as the winner of the debate, with another 7% choosing Bass and the other 4% choosing Raman.

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