Living outside the community they want to represent may be a hurdle for political candidates, but it’s unlikely to be a problem for Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, who until recently was living in Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County, analysts say.
That’s because Pratt’s home burned down in the Palisades fire in January 2025, making him a sympathetic figure among many voters — especially those living in his Westside base, he says.
“I don’t think it will be electorally consequential,” said Zev Yaroslavsky, a former Los Angeles County supervisor and LA City Council member who now runs the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. “He’s a victim of the Palisades fire who doesn’t have a home to live in because it burned down.”
Pratt applied to run for mayor in February and was Ranked second only to Mayor Karen Bass in recent polls By Luskin School. He was certified by the Los Angeles city clerk on March 2 as one of 14 candidates in the June 2 primary election.
While some observers have questioned his qualifications, a state memorandum Following the fire it was said that voters who were temporarily displaced from their homes could use their former address as their permanent residence as long as they “intend to return” in the future.
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt currently lives in a private community in Carpinteria, California.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
Michael Sanchez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, said this also applies to candidates.
“In situations where a candidate is temporarily displaced (such as the 2025 wildfires), their eligibility to run for office is not affected, provided they maintain residence in their district,” Sanchez said in a statement.
He explained that domicile is determined by a person’s primary residence and their intention to return to that residence. “Temporary relocation during reconstruction or recovery does not, in itself, change a person’s place of residence.”
The Times asked the L.A. City Clerk’s office last week about Pratt’s residency and eligibility.
City Clerk’s Office spokesperson Josue Marcus said, “Due to confidentiality we cannot comment on the specifics of a candidate’s address. Any matters related to a candidate’s eligibility or residency, such as this position, can be formally challenged through the court.”
Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University, said any potential challenge to Pratt’s eligibility based on residency would focus on the question of whether he intended to return. “They are tricky inquiries because it depends on someone’s state of mind,” she said.
Pratt and his campaign aides did not respond to requests for comment. Following inquiries from The Times, Pratt released a video on Monday defending his decision to move to Carpinteria, but said he now intends to live in a trailer parked at his burned-out location in Pacific Palisades.
Well-known Democratic political consultant Mike Trujillo said that the city of Los Angeles covers approximately 500 square miles, which creates nothing but logistical obstacles for a candidate seeking citywide office from a remote location.
“Anyone who has driven from San Pedro to Sylmar knows L.A. is a big place,” said Trujillo, who is not affiliated with any of the candidates in the June 2 mayoral primary. “Adding another hour and a half to the drive is not beneficial if you are trying to canvass every corner of the city.”
Former reality TV star Pratt has millions of followers on social media, but Trujillo said Pratt will have to show a strong presence in the community to run a successful campaign.
Pratt is a Republican running in a Democrat-majority city. Developer Geoffrey H. Palmer, a major campaign donor According to President Trump, he plans to hold a reception for Pratt at his Beverly Hills home on April 28. for a document The Pratt campaign filed with the city Ethics Commission.
The event is being organized by Trey Kozasik, who also organized a Trump fundraiser in Los Angeles in 2019.
A UCLA Luskin poll released this month shows Pratt with support from 11% of likely voters, behind Bass at 25% and ahead of City Council member Nitya Raman at 9%.
Mayoral candidate Adam Miller, who polled 3% in the survey, said Pratt’s party affiliation is his biggest obstacle to winning the mayoral race.
“I sympathize with Spencer for losing his home and feeling resentment toward the city, but he’s not a viable candidate. No matter where he lives, this city hasn’t elected a Republican mayor in 30 years, and he’s not going to change that now,” said Miller, a tech executive.
Others say that party affiliation is not an issue.
“This is a non-partisan race,” said Roxanne Hoge, chair of the Los Angeles County Republican Party. “There is no letter with anyone’s name on it. …I personally support him because he is a wise choice.”
Some think Pratt will also appeal to some Democratic voters.
“There are people I talk to, who I know are Democrats, who really like him,” said Maryam Zar, head of the Palisades Recovery Coalition. “To the extent that people are disappointed with this improvement, their hopes are pinned on Spencer. It’s not a bad place to be for them.”
