Reality check: Will online attention translate to real-life votes for Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles?

Key Points:

• AI-generated viral videos featuring Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as the Joker and other dramatic imagery are boosting Republican Spencer Pratt’s campaign for LA mayor, garnering over 5 million views on X and energizing GOP supporters in a traditionally Democratic city.
• Pratt, a former reality TV star from “The Hills,” has gained momentum by criticizing Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom’s handling of recent wildfires, and has attracted attention from figures like former President Donald Trump, who called him “a character.”
• Recent polls show Pratt closing in on Bass, with 22% of voters backing him versus Bass’s 30%, making a potential runoff election in November more likely if no candidate surpasses 50% in the June primary.
• Democrats remain skeptical of Pratt’s online popularity, noting many supporters are outside Los Angeles, but acknowledge Bass faces significant political challenges amid widespread voter dissatisfaction with her leadership during the Palisades fires.
• Pratt’s campaign uses viral videos and direct voter communication to build momentum, while progressive challenger Nithya Raman also competes for second place, creating a dynamic race fueled by voter discontent with the incumbent mayor.