Drew Carey calls Spencer Pratt ‘serial scammer’ over LA mayoral bid

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• Reality Television Meets Political Ambition: The Pratt Campaign Shakes LA Politics
• The Carey Critique: Inside the Comedian’s Scathing Assessment
• Campaign Metrics and Public Response
• Party Affiliation and Political Positioning in a Democratic City
• What the Pratt Campaign Reveals About Political Disruption and Voter Frustration
• How Will Los Angeles Voters Respond to Competing Narratives About Pratt’s Candidacy?
  • Sources

Drew Carey, the long-time host of The Price Is Right, made a pointed public statement on May 24, 2026, blasting Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt as a “serial scammer” and urging voters to reject the reality television personality’s campaign. The comedian’s forceful critique underscores growing skepticism within Los Angeles about Pratt’s unorthodox political venture, which has nonetheless attracted substantial financial backing and media attention ahead of the city’s primary election.

Reality Television Meets Political Ambition: The Pratt Campaign Shakes LA Politics

Spencer Pratt, who became known to television audiences through his role as the antagonist on MTV’s reality series The Hills (which aired from 2007 to 2010), emerged as a political contender in 2026 by focusing his messaging on two issues dominating Los Angeles voter concerns: crime and homelessness. Unlike traditional political candidates, Pratt has leveraged his background in entertainment to build name recognition and generate media coverage. His campaign website, majoritatt.com, carries the slogan “This is not a campaign. It’s a mission.”

The candidacy represents a significant departure from Pratt’s previous public profile. In the years following The Hills’ conclusion, Pratt largely remained out of mainstream entertainment news. His pivot to electoral politics in 2026 was dramatic and swift, suggesting personal conviction about the direction of the city. According to Los Angeles Times reporting from May 21, 2026, Pratt’s entry into the mayoral race was motivated in part by personal tragedy affecting city safety, though campaign communications have typically focused on broader policy critiques rather than personal narrative.

The Carey Critique: Inside the Comedian’s Scathing Assessment

Drew Carey’s statement on May 24, 2026, delivered publicly and with forceful language, presented a direct challenge to Pratt’s credibility. The Price Is Right host wrote on social media: “I understand being angry or unsatisfied with current leadership, but at least get behind someone competent and not some serial scammer without a soul or moral compass.”

Carey’s critique did not specify particular instances of alleged scamming or deceit. Rather, the assessment appears rooted in Pratt’s broader public history and his repeated controversies throughout his entertainment career. Pratt has faced multiple business-related disputes that have made headlines, and his shift into politics has drawn scrutiny from public figures concerned about the precedent it may establish. The statement reflects a growing chorus of established entertainment figures expressing doubt about Pratt’s fitness for office.

Campaign Metrics and Public Response

The following table outlines key data points from Pratt’s campaign against the broader context of the LA mayoral race:

Metric	Spencer Pratt	Context
Campaign Funds Raised	$2.7 Million	In single month (May 2026)
Age	42 years old	Born August 14, 1983
Prior Political Affiliation	Republican	Cited safety concerns in switch from prior positions
Primary Opponent	Karen Bass	Incumbent mayor, no “soul-searching” prompted by Pratt
Campaign Strategy	Social Media, AI Content, Edgy Humor	Unconventional approach drawing both support and criticism

Pratt’s financial performance stands out in the context of the mayoral race. Raising $2.7 million in one month represents exceptional fundraising velocity for a first-time political candidate, suggesting substantial grassroots enthusiasm among a portion of the Los Angeles electorate. However, this financial success has coincided with intensifying criticism from established public figures like Carey.

“I understand being angry/unsatisfied, but at least get behind someone competent and not some serial scammer without a soul or moral compass.”

— Drew Carey, Host, The Price Is Right, via social media statement, May 24, 2026

Party Affiliation and Political Positioning in a Democratic City

Pratt’s decision to officially align with the Republican Party represents a significant political statement in a city where registered Democrats substantially outnumber Republicans. According to The Hill reporting from May 22, 2026, Pratt has attributed his party switch to safety concerns and death threats he received, which he claims motivated a fundamental reevaluation of his political beliefs. This narrative has become central to his campaign positioning.

The mayor’s race has been described as “the weirdest mayoral race yet” by local outlets, with political analysts noting parallels between Pratt’s insurgent strategy and President Donald Trump’s unconventional 2016 presidential campaign. Both figures leveraged reality television backgrounds, social media communication, combative rhetoric, and perceived outsider status. Some Trump officials have appeared receptive to Pratt’s candidacy, though explicit campaign endorsements remain limited.

What the Pratt Campaign Reveals About Political Disruption and Voter Frustration

The emergence of Pratt as a serious mayoral contender—regardless of outcome—signals genuine voter frustration with traditional governance in Los Angeles. Crime and homelessness have dominated political conversation throughout the 2026 campaign cycle, and while the incumbent mayor’s office has emphasized that Los Angeles is safer than it has been in decades, public perception diverges from statistical reality. This perception gap creates opportunity for challengers offering bold, unconventional messaging.

Pratt’s campaign tactics—including the use of AI-generated videos, edgy social media content, and block parties in South Los Angeles—represent a deliberate attempt to connect with voters outside traditional political structures. Whether these tactics constitute innovation or manipulation remains a point of contention, with critics like Carey framing them as markers of dishonesty rather than authenticity.

How Will Los Angeles Voters Respond to Competing Narratives About Pratt’s Candidacy?

As the Los Angeles primary election approaches in June 2026, the central question for voters involves reconciling competing assessments of Spencer Pratt: Is he a genuine political newcomer responding to legitimate grievances, or is he an opportunist exploiting voter anxiety without substantive solutions? Drew Carey’s public statement reflects the skepticism of establishment figures, yet Pratt’s fundraising success suggests meaningful support exists among voters frustrated with the status quo.

The race will ultimately test whether traditional character concerns—like those Carey has raised—still matter to voters in an era of anti-establishment sentiment, or whether frustration with existing governance structures overrides previous reservations about specific candidates.

Sources

• Fox News — Drew Carey’s statement calling Spencer Pratt a “serial scammer” and urging voters to reject his mayoral campaign
• Los Angeles Times — Spencer Pratt’s transition to politics and the role of personal tragedy in his mayoral decision
• The Hill — Pratt’s political party affiliation and attributed motivations for his Republican registration
• Deadline — Coverage of Pratt’s disruption of the Los Angeles mayoral primary election dynamics
• Page Six / New York Post — Social media documentation of Carey’s critical statements about Pratt