Republicans across the country often love to use California as a political punching bag, despite the state’s conservative history, and the production of Ronald Reagan, the defining figure of the modern conservative movement. And while many have written the state off, some have even chosen to abandon it altogether. Still, the performance of Spencer Pratt, a Republican running for mayor of Los Angeles, suggests California can still produce GOP candidates who are more energized, passionate, and capable than those emerging from traditional Republican strongholds.
To Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany, with Democrats in California openly promising policies like free healthcare and voting rights for illegal aliens, its embarassing that Republcians in Congress are still unable to pass the SAVE Act. She argued it reflects a weak GOP that has been consistently been too slow to act, and called on Republicans in Congress to “get a little Spencer Pratt in you.”
WOW! Kayleigh McEnany just FLAMED the GOP for being WEAK — calls on them to be more like SPENCER PRATT
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 7, 2026
"Republicans in Congress—WAKE UP and get a little Spencer Pratt in you.
Because you just heard what [Democrats] about to do: healthcare for illegal immigrants, potential… pic.twitter.com/RHLR2QEktW
"Spencer Pratt was phenomenal last night. He prosecuted the case. He has laid out a model that we as the GOP, we cannot surrender blue states. We can't surrender blue cities. We have to stand up and fight for conservatives everywhere they exist, and he has done that to great effect. Phenomenal model that everyone should look at," she said. "And Republicans in Congress, wake up. Get a little Spencer Pratt in you, because you just heard what they're about to do. Healthcare for illegal immigrants, potentially healthcare, potentially voting for illegal immigrants, and you guys can't even get the Save America Act across the finish line. Give me a break. Wake up, congressional Republicans. Become Spencer Pratt."
Wednesday night's Los Angeles mayoral debate was dominated by Pratt, who went after Mayor Karen Bass, and city councilwoman Nithya Raman without mercy.
While California Republicans have progressives pushing them further and further into a corner, many Republicans nationwide act as though they have all the time in the world to complete their policy agenda's.
The energy coming from Pratt underscored that divide, as he has continued to present a model for Republicans around the country. Just last week, the mayoral candidate released a campaign ad that many praised as one of the strongest in decades, and amid years of mismanagement, his debate performance was notably sharp as he painted brutally vivid pictures of the city’s decline, and wasn't afraid to call out those behind it.
Spencer Pratt takes down Socialist councilwoman Nithya Raman:
— johnny maga (@johnnymaga) May 7, 2026
“I’ll go below the freeway tomorrow with her to find some of these people she’s going to ‘offer treatment’ to. She’s going to get stabbed in the neck. They don’t want a bed—they want fentanyl.” pic.twitter.com/7uzpQQ3Zww
The case is made even stronger by Steve Hilton, a Republican who currently leads the California governor’s race. During his campaign, he has focused on tackling waste, fraud, and abuse in the state, claiming to have uncovered nearly half a trillion dollars in fraud and bringing those allegations to the public’s attention. He has continued to claw his way forward in the polls, even as the June 2 primary draws closer, and Democrats have begun to coalleces around fewer candidates.
Hope remains that even if he can't make it across the finish line, he will be spearheading the growing movement of discontent in a state dominated by Democratic supermajorities.
California Republicans are on the offense, and they aren't willing to give up their state even if the rest of the country is. The state may be dominated by some of the most progressive Democrats in the country, but its Republican opposition is becoming fiercer than ever.
