Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt opened up about the personal experience that led him to register as a Republican.
In an interview that aired Wednesday night, CNN anchor Elex Michaelson asked Pratt point-blank, “Why are you a Republican?”
Pratt, best known for his role on MTV’s 2000s-era reality series “The Hills,” teased the revelation by saying, “You want to break some news here? This is the first time I’ve ever said this, so this is breaking news. Everyone’s going to freak out.”
“When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats, I had so much security and police, and what did they tell me to do? Get a gun,” Pratt said. “I know people don’t like guns, but L.A. was dangerous if you’re hated, so I got a gun. My wife got a gun, and then we needed [concealed carry permits].”
Los Angeles mayoral contender and former reality TV star @spencerpratt tells @Elex_Michaelson the reason why he became a Republican.
This is part of a special series on the top contenders in the race for #LosAngeles #mayor pic.twitter.com/mDqglZvE6B
— The Story Is (@CNNTheStoryIs) May 21, 2026
Pratt said only Republican candidates supported concealed carry rights, a key pillar of the Second Amendment that many Democrats oppose. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to carry a concealed handgun outside the home for self-defense.
“That was what I aligned with: my safety, my personal safety, my family’s safety. I know people don’t like guns, but when people are threatening your life and your own security is telling you, you need to have home protection … that’s it,” Pratt said.
Pratt, running in deep-blue Los Angeles, acknowledged gun rights represent a “hot button” issue, but vowed to use law enforcement to protect sensitive sites.
“I’m also going to be the mayor that puts LAPD in front of every school to make schools safe from guns,” he said, not backing down on his position. “I know people don’t like guns, and we need to make everything, especially schools, safe, but that is where I connect to, and once you feel fear, and it’s real, you want to protect your family.”
Beyond the cameras and Hollywood studios, Pratt is criss-crossing the City of Angels, meeting wildfire victims in the Pacific Palisades and firing up the grill with voters in South L.A.
One voter, frustrated by what she described as Karen Bass’ inaction, pledged her support for Spencer Pratt.
“Karen Bass is not doing anything; she’s been bullsh*tting us,” the voter said, detailing her daughter’s painful drug addiction. “My daughter needs the help. They put her in jail. No treatment, no medicine, and we need more than that.”
“She’s not homeless — she has a mother — but she’s downtown right now, walking around, and people probably don’t think she has a mother who loves her,” the emotional woman said as she embraced Spencer Pratt in a hug.
Pratt is set to face incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass and far-Left Councilwoman Nithya Raman in the June 2 mayoral primary.
She’s voting for Spencer Pratt because he’s willing to talk about actual problems facing LA.
The other two just want to hide problems. pic.twitter.com/sT1D7cINgK
— Mila Joy (@Milajoy) May 21, 2026
