Spencer Pratt believes he has figured out why his campaign for Los Angeles mayor fell short.
The former reality television star and unsuccessful mayoral candidate took aim at Los Angeles’ left-leaning politics during an impromptu interview after returning from Washington, D.C. With a joke, he suggested that embracing communism might have helped him win over voters.
“Yeah, I think I should have just run as a communist,” Pratt quipped as he climbed into a large silver pickup truck.
“I think that’s what the people of LA want,” he continued. “So I should have just said I was a communist — or at least a champagne socialist.”
Pratt, a Republican-leaning political outsider, built his campaign around criticizing City Hall’s response to the devastating Palisades fire, homelessness and broader government dysfunction. He ultimately failed to advance beyond the June primary.
The “Hills” star placed third behind incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and democratic socialist Nithya Raman, who later went on to win the race.
Pratt had presented himself as a political disruptor who would shake up City Hall. However, his celebrity profile and attacks on Los Angeles’ Democratic leadership were not enough to carry him into the November runoff.
His sarcastic post-election analysis came after he was asked about President Trump’s recent criticism of his campaign, including Trump’s suggestion that Pratt should have challenged the election results.
Pratt acknowledged the president’s remarks but offered his own theory about why the campaign failed to gain enough support.
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Asked whether he preferred Raman over Bass, Pratt gave little indication that a change in leadership would bring a meaningful shift.
“Same entity, same entity,” he said, noting that the two Democrats had campaigned door to door together.
The interview took place after Pratt returned from Washington, where he said he had spoken at the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Despite his connection to Trump and rising political profile, Pratt appeared uninterested in pursuing a position in Washington.
When asked whether he would accept the role of White House press secretary if Trump offered it to him, Pratt dismissed the idea and instead proposed bringing back a former administration official.
“I think they should bring Katie back,” he said of Katie Zacharia’s brief tenure as press secretary. “I think she needs a second chance.”
Pratt also seemed reluctant to embrace the political establishment following his unsuccessful campaign.
Asked whether Wikipedia should update his description from television personality to politician, Pratt ended the exchange with one final swipe.
“I hate politicians,” he said.
