Former “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush said Thursday that Republican mayoral candidate and former reality star Spencer Pratt delivered a forceful performance in Tuesday’s Los Angeles mayoral debate, pressing incumbent Mayor Karen Bass (D) on her response to the Palisades fire and other issues.
Speaking to NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, Bush admitted he was initially skeptical of Pratt’s decision to debate Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who entered the race late in February. But after watching the exchange, Bush changed his assessment.
“Here’s the thing about Spencer Pratt, he was relentless,” Bush said. “He kept going and he kept going, and the guy has credibility, right? I mean, he came in and said, ‘I’m an outsider,’ and ‘Boy, it’s corrupt,’ and ‘Karen Bass was in Ghana when she should have been in Los Angeles when the city was burning.’”
Bush referred to Bass attending the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Mahama in January 2025 as a member of the U.S. delegation. Shortly after her return, the Palisades and Eaton fires devastated parts of Los Angeles. Pratt’s own home was destroyed in the Palisades fire, giving him a personal stake in the criticism.
Bush noted that Pratt’s television background made him “a very good communicator” and said the candidate appeared “relaxed” while taking on both Bass and Raman. “He was absolutely comfortable, and he was on the offensive and he did very, very well,” Bush said. He added that if Pratt could push Raman out of the race, “Bass won’t know what to do with Spencer Pratt.”
During the debate, Pratt called Bass “an incredible liar” over her characterization of the wildfire response, prompting moderators to instruct the candidates to avoid name-calling. Bass defended her record, calling the fires “one of the worst moments of my life,” but argued she deserves a second term. She pointed to a 17.5% reduction in street homelessness during her tenure and efforts to build affordable housing.
On the question of allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections—a proposal from Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez—Bass and Raman both answered “it depends,” while Pratt flatly said “no.”
Polling from Emerson College shows Pratt in second place behind Bass, while a University of California, Berkeley survey puts Raman in second and Bass still leading. The race is tightening as the primary approaches, with Pratt’s aggressive style drawing attention from political observers.
For more on the dynamics of the LA mayor race, see our coverage of the tense debate between Bass and her primary challengers. The contest has also seen viral moments, including an AI-generated ad that cast the mayor as the Joker, highlighting the unconventional nature of the campaign.
