Spencer Pratt is drawing attention in the Los Angeles mayoral race after warning Bill Maher that he would take a hard line on public marijuana use if elected. During a June 1 appearance on Maher’s Club Random podcast, Pratt said he would not allow people to smoke pot around children and suggested that violations in parks, schools, and near daycares could lead to enforcement action.
Pratt, 42, is running as an outsider against Democratic incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman. His campaign has centered on public safety, cleaner streets, better infrastructure, and stricter law enforcement. He told Maher that his priorities as mayor would be basic city services such as keeping the lights on, fixing potholes, and restoring order. Maher, a longtime marijuana user, jokingly held up a rolled blunt during the conversation, prompting Pratt to say he did not want anyone smoking in front of children at a park.
Pratt argued that open drug use and disorder in public spaces have become too common in Los Angeles, especially in parks where families gather. He said that even if marijuana is legal, it should not be used around children and that the city needs a return to consequences for violating public norms. He also said that such behavior was not something he would have imagined growing up in Los Angeles.
The former reality TV personality, best known for The Hills, also spoke about his experience losing the home he shared with wife Heidi Montag and their two sons in the deadly 2025 wildfires in Pacific Palisades. That personal loss has added urgency to his message about city leadership, accountability, and rebuilding trust in local government. Pratt told Maher that Los Angeles is being “scammed” by politicians, unions, and nonprofits, and said he wants to clean house if given the chance.
Maher appeared impressed by Pratt’s blunt criticism of city government and praised his impatience with the status quo, though he stopped short of formally endorsing him before the June 2 primary. The race uses a top-two primary system, with the leading candidates advancing to the November election. Pratt has said he is not seeking celebrity endorsements, but he has already received support from a number of well-known figures, including Paris Hilton, Adam Carolla, James Woods, Quaid, Billy Bush, Amber Rose, Nick Viall, Brody Jenner, and Joe Rogan. Other supporters include David Foster, Katharine McPhee, and former Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeannie Buss, who contributed the maximum allowed to his campaign.
As the primary approaches, Pratt’s campaign is gaining momentum by tapping into voter frustration over crime, homelessness, and city management.
