Lisa Rinna likes Spencer Pratt, but she does not want him running Los Angeles.
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star weighed in on Pratt’s campaign for mayor of Los Angeles while speaking with Variety on the red carpet at the American Music Awards on Monday, May 25. Rinna said she was still undecided in the race, but she made one preference clear: she does not want another reality TV figure in a major political office.
Her comments landed because Pratt’s campaign is no longer just an odd celebrity sidebar. The former The Hills star has raised real money, drawn national attention, and turned his mayoral bid into one of the strangest stories in Los Angeles politics.
Rinna Said a Reality Star Should Not Be Mayor
Rinna was asked who should lead Los Angeles next, and she did not name Pratt as her choice.
“I am gonna say I don’t know yet. Not a reality star, though,” Rinna said, according to People. “I’m sorry. I love him, but we’ve already done that, we’re not going to do that again.”
She also turned the point back on herself. “Listen, I’m a reality person,” Rinna said. “You wouldn’t want me as mayor, really.”
The line kept the interview light, but the message was not vague. Rinna argued that Los Angeles should look for someone with governing experience, not just a familiar television name and a strong public profile.
She Still Said Pratt Could Have a Chance
Rinna did not treat Pratt as invisible in the race. Asked whether he had a real chance of becoming mayor, she said he “could be” and noted that he seemed to have momentum behind him.
That answer reflects the unusual place Pratt now occupies in the campaign. Governing, republishing Los Angeles Times reporting, described Pratt as an unexpected and polarizing contender who has used social media skill, name recognition, and anger after the Palisades fire to shake up the race.
Los Angeles mayoral elections are nonpartisan. If no candidate wins a majority in the June 2 primary, the top two candidates advance to a Nov. 3 runoff.
Pratt Turned a Wildfire Loss Into a Campaign
Pratt launched his campaign after the 2025 Palisades fire destroyed the home he shared with Heidi Montag and their family. His campaign site frames the run as a response to a system he says failed residents during a crisis.
His message has focused on emergency readiness, public safety, homelessness, city management, and criticism of current Los Angeles leadership. People reported that Pratt has repeatedly criticized Mayor Karen Bass and Councilwoman Nithya Raman during the campaign.
Pratt has also faced scrutiny over how he presents his post-fire living situation. People noted that an April campaign ad showed him beside an Airstream trailer on the site of his former home, while TMZ later reported that he had been staying at the Hotel Bel Air. Pratt responded by saying he needed a hotel because his home had burned down.
The Campaign Has Become More Than a Celebrity Stunt
Part of the attention around Pratt comes from the way his reality TV history follows him into politics. He became famous on The Hills as one half of “Speidi” with Heidi Montag, and his public image was built through conflict, tabloid coverage, and reality television storytelling.
That same media fluency is now part of his campaign identity. His official site describes the mayoral run as “not a campaign” but “a mission,” and it links to campaign merchandise, donation pages, videos, and social accounts built for online circulation.
The money has made the bid harder to dismiss. The Los Angeles Times reported that Pratt raised $2.72 million between April 19 and May 16, compared with $283,000 for Bass during the same filing period. The paper also reported that Pratt had raised $3.26 million in total contributions, slightly ahead of Bass’ $3.13 million.
Rinna’s Point Was About Experience, Not a Personal Feud
Rinna’s criticism did not sound like a personal attack on Pratt. She repeatedly said she likes him, then argued that the city needs someone with real government experience.
That is the cleaner story here. Rinna was not trying to turn the race into a Bravo feud. She was reacting to a bigger question that Pratt’s campaign has already raised: what happens when reality TV fame, social media reach, and public anger become enough to make someone a serious political contender?
Pratt’s campaign has forced Los Angeles voters and national media to treat his bid as an election story, not just a celebrity curiosity. Rinna’s red carpet answer added another entertainment-world voice to the debate over visibility, experience, and who should be trusted to run one of America’s largest cities.