Democrats in Los Angeles are growing increasingly anxious over the prospect that Spencer Pratt, a former reality television personality running a bluntly anti-status-quo campaign, may secure a spot in the November runoff for mayor.
That anxiety was on full display this week when late-night host Jimmy Kimmel devoted a segment of his ABC program to deriding Pratts surprisingly strong performance, a reaction that, according to RedState, mirrors the escalating attacks already launched by incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and fellow Democrat, City Council member Nithya Raman. Kimmels monologue, dripping with contempt for both Pratt and the voters considering him, underscored just how rattled the citys progressive establishment has become as its grip on power faces an unexpected challenge.
Kimmel opened by mocking the idea that anyone in Los Angeles could have quietly backed Pratt, sneering, "It could take a while for Democrats here in Los Angeles to figure out which of their friends secretly voted for Spencer Pratt. Barring a late ballot buzzer-beater, it appears Mayor Karen Bass will advance to a runoff against the former reality show villain." He then leaned into the lefts favorite cultural insult, quipping, "Sixty percent of the vote has been counted. If that holds, it means in November Los Angelenos are going to have to choose between a woman named Karen and a man who is one."
The hosts disdain only escalated as he continued, "This is insane. We should be very embarrassed. Spencer Pratt should not be a top-two finalist for mayor. He should be DJing the worst New Years Eve party in Reno right now. Hes unlikely to win. In fact, hes already filming a reality show about his run for mayor, so he definitely has his priorities in order." For a man whose own career has long depended on partisan pandering and cheap applause lines, Kimmels outrage over a candidate tapping into voter frustration with Democratic mismanagement was telling.
At the core of Pratts appeal is a willingness to say what many residents see every day but their leaders refuse to fix: rampant homelessness, rising crime, and filthy streets. Is it being a "Karen" to call out poop in the streets, to point out crime and homelessness, and how the Democrats have failed? Those are things any normal person would be concerned about.
The fact that Democrats mock such concerns rather than address them speaks volumes about their priorities and their disconnect from ordinary Angelenos. It says a lot about Democrats that they're not, and that they haven't solved these basic quality of life issues. If being concerned about that is being a "Karen," then bring on the "Karens" (we need more of them).
Kimmel, who has spent years trading genuine comedy for progressive sermonizing, seemed oblivious to his own lack of credibility as he lectured voters about embarrassment. Then, too, imagine Kimmel having the nerve to talk about anyone being embarrassing. He's right; he should be embarrassed at the positions he's supported and the fact that he's sacrificed any real humor for the sake of being a Democratic sycophant.
Pratt, for his part, did not respond with a lengthy statement or a defensive press conference; instead, he opted for a single devastating image. Spencer Pratt had the perfect response to Kimmel's whining, posting an image of Kimmel in blackface from "The Man Show" in the early 2000s, when he impersonated former NBA star Karl Malone. Frankly, Pratt was being kind; he could have dropped a boatload of things.
The late-night host also tried to joke about the glacial pace of ballot counting in Los Angeles, inadvertently highlighting another serious problem that Democrats prefer to wave away. We should also note the joke Jimmy Kimmel made about the time it takes to count the ballots in that clip above. You don't have election day, you have election weeks.
For a city that prides itself on being modern and efficient, the drawn-out process is anything but amusing, and it erodes public confidence in the system. It's not a joke; it's ridiculous, and they need to do something to rectify the system, or you wouldn't get in people like Pratt, who want to change the system. As we reported, the Department of Justice is looking into some of the questions.
Meanwhile, as ballot drops continue, the numbers in the mayoral race have tightened, raising the stakes for both the political class and the voters who are tired of business as usual. With the ballot drops since Tuesday, the numbers in the mayoral race have gotten closer between Pratt and Raman, the person currently in third.
On Tuesday night, Pratt was up about 40,000 votes, but that margin has narrowed as more ballots have been processed. Now, Bass is at 215,868 (35 percent), Pratt is at 174, 260 (28.2 percent), and Raman is at 153,588 (24.9 percent). You can check the updated numbers in our "Live Election" story for the California numbers.
Whether Pratt ultimately makes the runoff or not, the reaction from Democrats and their media allies reveals a political class deeply unsettled by any challenge to its dominance. Their instinct to sneer at voters concerns, mock those who demand safe streets and functional elections, and rely on late-night comedians as attack dogs only underscores why so many Angelenos are looking for an alternative to the status quo.
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