Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday accused mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt of using AI-generated advertisements that depict the city as a crime-ridden dystopia, saying the campaign was "taking on a violent trend." The incumbent Democrat called the ads supporting her Republican challenger "absolutely 150 percent fiction" and expressed concern about their potential to provoke unstable individuals.
Pratt, a former reality TV star known for his role on "The Hills," has emerged as an unexpected contender in the Los Angeles mayoral race. His campaign has employed AI-generated video advertisements depicting himself as a Batman-style vigilante fighting masked agents wearing vests with letters referencing the Democratic Socialists of America. In the ads, Bass appears as a judge with Joker-like makeup, flanked by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Residents are shown throwing tomatoes—described by Bass as resembling blood—at the three Democrats before text reads "LA is worth saving."
What the Left Is Saying
Bass expressed particular concern about specific imagery in Pratt's advertisements during an interview with CNN's Elex Michaelson. "The throwing of tomatoes, which looked like blood, or drowning me and the governor in a reservoir, but there's also other violent scenes," Bass said. "I've noticed that it's taking on a violent trend, and that is very scary." She argued that such depictions could jeopardize public safety by provoking people who are unstable.
The mayor connected Pratt's approach to broader concerns about political rhetoric. "Because when you do that, and when your messages are so hateful, or when you demonize people, then you do provoke people who are unstable and you can jeopardize people's safety," Bass said. She also suggested voters' frustration with current conditions drives support for unconventional candidates like Pratt. "I think that plays into people's desperation. And I think oftentimes we look for someone superhuman to save us. The reality is – it never happens."
What the Right Is Saying
Pratt has not publicly responded to Bass's criticism of his campaign advertisements. However, during last week's first mayoral debate, Pratt attacked Bass over her response to the January 2025 Palisades fire—the largest in Los Angeles history—which destroyed his home. He called the incumbent "an incredible liar" over how she characterized the blazes and has centered much of his campaign on her absence from the city when the fires erupted.
Pratt's supporters argue that his outsider status and willingness to use unconventional tactics reflect voter frustration with career politicians. The former reality TV star's campaign messaging frames Bass as part of a Democratic establishment that has failed Los Angeles residents, particularly on issues of public safety and disaster response. His "LA is worth saving" slogan suggests the city requires fundamental change rather than continuation of current leadership.
What the Numbers Show
A new Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey shows Bass leading the mayoral race with 30 percent support heading into November. Pratt follows at 22 percent, while Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman trails both Democrats at 19 percent. Other candidates received single-digit levels of support.
The poll found that undecided voters have decreased significantly, dropping from 51 percent in March to 16 percent currently. This narrowing electorate suggests the race is entering a decisive phase where fewer minds remain open to persuasion. The data indicates Bass maintains an 8-point lead over Pratt, but neither candidate has crossed the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a potential runoff election.
The Bottom Line
The use of AI-generated political advertisements represents a new frontier in mayoral campaigning that raises questions about the regulation of campaign technology. Bass's concerns about violent imagery reflect broader Democratic Party anxieties about Republican campaigns using provocative content on social media platforms where younger voters consume political information.
What to watch: Whether Pratt continues with similar advertising tactics and how Los Angeles regulators respond to AI-generated campaign content. The race remains competitive, and Bass has indicated she takes nothing for granted, drawing parallels between this contest and the 2016 presidential election that produced unexpected results.