Pratt's Resignation Claim
Spencer Pratt Alleges Audio Evidence Could Force Mayor Bass or Councilwoman Nithya Raman to Resign
Spencer Pratt lost his bid for Los Angeles mayor — and he is not going quietly. The reality TV star turned political candidate released a video called "Saving LA—Phase III" shortly after being eliminated from the race, claiming he holds audio of either Mayor Karen Bass or Councilwoman Nithya Raman that would force one of them to resign. Fox San Antonio reported the video surfaced as Pratt fell from second place to third in the final vote count.
Pratt finished the primary with 216,783 votes — about 25.5% of the total. Bass led with 34.3%, while Raman edged past Pratt in the final mail-in tally to claim second place with 29.0%, according to KOMO News. The two women will now face each other in the November general election.
Pratt Claims Explosive Audio Will End a Career
In his three-minute video, Pratt did not release the audio or name which politician it involves. But he did not hold back on the threat. "We have some recordings of one of your insulting candidates doing and saying something that would make her resign in shame," Pratt said, according to Mediaite. He did not offer a timeline for releasing the recording.
Pratt appears to be echoing a painful chapter in LA's recent history. In 2022, a leaked recording of City Council members making racist remarks forced Council President Nury Martinez to resign. That scandal still haunts City Hall. RedState noted Pratt seems to be deliberately tapping into that memory to signal his "Phase III" could carry similar weight.
A Campaign Built on Personal Loss and Viral Outrage
Pratt's run for mayor was never a typical political campaign. It started with personal tragedy — his Pacific Palisades home burned down in the January 2025 wildfires. He sued the city over failed brush clearance. Then, in January 2026, he turned the lawsuit into a campaign, according to WGME. He used AI-generated ads and his reality TV fame to bypass traditional media.
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Pratt's platform and amplified claims of vote-count "irregularities" after Raman surged past Pratt in mail-in ballots, according to News Channel 9. Bass's campaign called the tactics "Trumpian." Raman's team accused Pratt of "political stunts" and "incendiary language."
Analysts Call It a Grievance Tour, Not a Bombshell
Political consultant Mike Madrid described Pratt's video as a "personal grievance tour" — a move designed to keep him relevant after losing, not to expose real wrongdoing. Madrid called it a classic "exit strategy" from a candidate unwilling to accept defeat, according to Idaho News. Critics online called the video a "rage video" from someone seeking attention.
Legal observers flagged another risk. California is a two-party consent state. That means recording someone without their permission is illegal. If the audio was obtained that way, Pratt could face criminal or civil charges, according to MyNews4. Pratt hinted in the video he is ready for "war" and called himself no longer "hamstrung by campaign laws."
What Comes Next for LA's November Runoff
With Pratt out, the general election is now a battle between two Democrats — the establishment incumbent Bass and the progressive challenger Raman. Pratt came close: he fell roughly 29,550 votes short of making the runoff, according to News3LV. Whether his "Phase III" audio ever surfaces could shape the race's final months.
If the recording is real and damaging, it could reshape the race or even trigger a special election — similar to the fallout after the 2022 racist remarks scandal. If it never appears, it will likely be seen as a last grasp for relevance by a candidate who came close but fell short, according to WACH. Either way, Pratt has made clear he is not done with Los Angeles politics.
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