Living outside the community they want to represent can be a disadvantage for political candidates, but it's not likely to be a problem for Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt, who until recently lived in Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County, analysts say.
That's because Pratt's home burned in the Palisades Fire in January 2025, making him a sympathetic figure among many voters, especially those living in his West Side base, they say.
“I don't think this is going to have any electoral consequences,” said Zev Yaroslavsky, a former Los Angeles County supervisor and Los Angeles City Council member who now heads UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs. “He's a victim of the Palisades fire and he doesn't have a house to live in because it burned down.”
Pratt filed for mayor in February and came in second behind Mayor Karen Bass in a recent poll conducted by Luskin School. The Los Angeles City Clerk certified him on March 2 as one of 14 candidates in the June 2 primary election.
While some observers have raised questions about their eligibility, a state memo after the fires said voters who were temporarily displaced from their homes can use their former address as a permanent residence as long as they “intend to return” in the future.
Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt currently resides in a gated community in Carpinteria, California.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Sanchez, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Recorder/County Clerk, said this applies to candidates as well.
“In situations where a candidate has been temporarily displaced (such as the 2025 wildfires), their eligibility to run for office is not affected, as long as they maintain their domicile in their district,” Sánchez 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, by itself, change a person's domicile.”
The Times asked the Los Angeles city clerk's office last week about Pratt's residency and eligibility.
“We cannot comment on the details of a candidate's address due to confidentiality. Any issue related to a candidate's eligibility or residency, such as this situation, can be formally challenged through court,” said Joshua Marcus, spokesman for the city clerk's office.
Any potential challenges to Pratt's eligibility based on residency would depend on whether he intended to return, said Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University. “Those are difficult questions because they depend on each person's mood,” he said.
Pratt and his campaign advisers did not respond to requests for comment. Pratt posted a video Monday, following inquiries from the Times, defending his decision to move to Carpinteria but saying he now intends to live in a trailer located on his burned-out lot in Pacific Palisades.
The city of Los Angeles spans about 500 square miles, creating logistical obstacles at least for a candidate seeking citywide office from a remote location, said Democratic political consultant Mike Trujillo.
“Anyone who has traveled from San Pedro to Sylmar knows that Los Angeles 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 of travel is not advantageous if you are trying to campaign in every corner of the city.”
Pratt, a former reality TV star, has millions of followers on social media, but Trujillo said Pratt will need to show a strong presence in the community to run a successful campaign.
Pratt is a Republican running in a majority-Democratic city. Developer Geoffrey H. Palmer, a major campaign donor to President Trump, plans to host a reception for Pratt at his Beverly Hills home on April 28, according to a document Pratt's campaign filed with the city's Ethics Commission.
The event is organized by Trey Kozacik, who also hosted a Trump fundraiser in Los Angeles in 2019.
The UCLA Luskin poll released this month showed Pratt with the support of 11% of likely voters, behind Bass at 25% and ahead of Councilman Nithya Raman at 9%.
Mayoral candidate Adam Miller, who polled at 3%, said Pratt's party affiliation is his biggest obstacle to winning the mayoral race.
“I sympathize with Spencer for losing his house and feeling outrage toward the city, but he's not a viable candidate. No matter where you live, a Republican hasn't been elected mayor in 30 years in this city, and that's not going to change now,” said Miller, a technology executive.
Others say party affiliation is less of an issue.
“This is a nonpartisan race,” said Roxanne Hoge, chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Republican Party. “There are no letters accompanying anyone's name… Personally I support it because it is a smart alternative.”
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, who heads the Palisades Recovery Coalition. “To the extent that people are disappointed by this recovery, they are putting their hopes in Spencer. That's not a bad place for him.”
