Spencer Pratt's time in Santa Barbara County likely won't affect his bid for L.A. mayor, analysts say

Dwelling exterior the neighborhood they need to characterize could be a handicap for political candidates, but it surely’s not prone to be an issue for Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt, who till not too long ago was residing in Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County, analysts say.

That’s as a result of Pratt’s residence burned within the January 2025 Palisades hearth, making him a sympathetic determine amongst many citizens — particularly these residing in his Westside base, they are saying.

“I don’t assume that is going to be electorally consequential,” mentioned Zev Yaroslavsky, a former Los Angeles County supervisor and L.A. Metropolis Council member who now runs the UCLA Luskin College of Public Affairs. “He’s a sufferer of the Palisades hearth that doesn’t have a house to dwell in as a result of it burned down.”

Pratt filed to run for mayor in February and was in second place behind Mayor Karen Bass in a latest ballot by the Luskin faculty. He was licensed by the Los Angeles metropolis clerk on March 2 as one among 14 candidates within the June 2 major election.

Whereas some observers have raised questions on his eligibility, a state memorandum following the fires mentioned that voters who have been quickly displaced from their houses can use their prior deal with as their everlasting residence so long as they “intend to return” sooner or later.

Michael Sanchez, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, mentioned this additionally applies to candidates.

“In conditions the place a candidate has been quickly displaced (such because the 2025 wildfires), their eligibility to run for workplace isn’t impacted, supplied they preserve domicile of their district,” Sanchez mentioned in a press release.

He defined that domicile is decided by an individual’s major residence and their intent to return to that residence. “Short-term relocation throughout rebuilding or restoration doesn’t, by itself, change an individual’s domicile.”

The Instances requested the L.A. metropolis clerk’s workplace final week about Pratt’s residency and eligibility.

“We can not touch upon the specifics of a candidate’s deal with because of confidentiality. Any matter regarding a candidate’s eligibility or residency, comparable to this example, might be formally challenged by means of the court docket,” mentioned Josue Marcus, a spokesperson for the town clerk’s workplace.

Any potential problem to Pratt’s eligibility based mostly on residency would activate the query of whether or not he had intent to return, mentioned Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Marymount College legislation professor. “These are difficult inquiries as a result of it is dependent upon somebody’s mind-set,” she mentioned.

Pratt and his marketing campaign aides didn’t reply to requests for remark. Pratt launched a video Monday, following inquiries from The Instances, defending his determination to maneuver to Carpinteria however saying he now intends to dwell in a trailer positioned on his burned-out lot in Pacific Palisades.

The town of Los Angeles sprawls throughout roughly 500 sq. miles, creating logistical hurdles if nothing else for a candidate looking for citywide workplace from a distant location, famous Democratic political guide Mike Trujillo.

“Anybody that has completed the drive from San Pedro to Sylmar is aware of that L.A. is an enormous place,” mentioned Trujillo, who isn’t affiliated with any of the candidates within the June 2 mayoral major. “So as to add one other hour and a half to the drive isn’t advantageous if you happen to’re making an attempt to marketing campaign in each nook of the town.”

Pratt, a former actuality TV star, has thousands and thousands of followers on social media, however Trujillo mentioned that Pratt might want to present a robust presence locally to wage a profitable marketing campaign.

Pratt is a Republican operating in a Democrat-majority metropolis. Developer Geoffrey H. Palmer, a significant marketing campaign donor to President Trump, plans to host a reception for Pratt at his Beverly Hills residence April 28, in line with a doc the Pratt marketing campaign filed with the town Ethics Fee.

The occasion is being organized by Trey Kozacik, who additionally organized a Trump fundraiser in Los Angeles in 2019.

The UCLA Luskin ballot launched this month confirmed Pratt with the help of 11% of probably voters, behind Bass with 25% and forward of Metropolis Council member Nithya Raman with 9%.

Mayoral candidate Adam Miller, who polled at 3% within the survey, mentioned Pratt’s get together affiliation is his greatest hurdle to successful the mayoral race.

“I sympathize with Spencer for shedding his residence and feeling outrage towards the town, however he’s not a viable candidate. It doesn’t matter the place he lives, a Republican hasn’t been elected mayor in 30 years on this metropolis, and he isn’t going to alter that now,” mentioned Miller, a tech government.

Others say get together affiliation is much less of a problem.

“This can be a nonpartisan race,” mentioned Roxanne Hoge, the chair of the Los Angeles County Republican Occasion. “There’s no letter accompanying anybody’s identify. … I personally help him as a result of he’s an clever different.”

Some assume Pratt may even maintain enchantment for some Democratic voters.

“There are individuals I communicate to who I do know to be Democrats who actually, actually like him,” mentioned Maryam Zar, who heads the Palisades Restoration Coalition. “To the extent that persons are disenchanted on this restoration, they pin their hopes on Spencer. That’s not a foul place for him to be.”