A viral AI-generated advertisement for Republican Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt portrays the city as a burning, Gotham-like nightmare, with Democratic Mayor Karen Bass cast as the Joker. The spot, released Tuesday by filmmaker Charles Curran of Menace Studios, has racked up nearly 4 million views on X as of Thursday.
The video opens with the Hollywood sign and City Hall in flames. Bass appears flanked by Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, all laughing as a woman pleads about homeless drug addicts near schools. Masked agents wearing "DSA" vests—referring to the Democratic Socialists of America, though none of the officials are members—drag the woman away.
Pratt, a reality TV actor who entered the race in January, sees his initials in the sky like a Bat-Signal and suits up. He meets podcaster Joe Rogan, who left Los Angeles for Texas in 2020, before battling the DSA agents. The ad culminates with Pratt, citizens, and even a DJ-ing Secretary of State Marco Rubio pelting Bass, Newsom, and Harris with tomatoes until they flee. The message "LA is worth saving" closes the spot.
Pratt has hammered Bass over her response to last year's wildfires. "This is where I live. They let my home burn down," he said in a recent ad. "I know what the consequences of failed leadership are." Though Curran isn't directly tied to the campaign, Pratt reposted the video, which has drawn praise from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Ted Cruz, and former Representative Matt Gaetz.
The ad lands amid a heated primary race. A March UC Berkeley/Los Angeles Times poll showed Bass leading with 25% support, followed by Councilmember Nithya Raman at 17% and Pratt at 14%, with over a quarter undecided. In a tense debate Wednesday night, Pratt called Bass "an incredible liar" over her wildfire narrative, while Bass defended her record.
Early voting runs May 23 through June 1, with Election Day on June 2. If no candidate tops 50%, the top two finishers—regardless of party—advance to the general election. The ad's dystopian imagery underscores the high stakes in a city grappling with homelessness, wildfires, and political discontent.
For more on the mayoral contest, see our coverage of the Bass versus primary challengers debate. The race also echoes broader national trends, as highlighted in House Republicans' focus on economic messaging.
