Tipsheet

Spencer Pratt Responds to His Crushing Defeat in LA With a Mysterious Image

Dmitri Bolt
Dmitri Bolt  |  June 10, 2026 11:00 AM

Spencer Pratt’s official response to his crushing defeat in Los Angeles’ mayoral race was anything but straightforward. The Republican, who dominated the race online and across social media, simply posted an image of a duck swimming across a lake as the sun set in the background. 

The post sparked a wave of speculation about its meaning and showcased the support Pratt still commands as thousands of supporters rallied behind the image even after he failed to advance to the city’s general election in November, despite leading the race early on.

With 95 percent of the vote counted as of Tuesday night, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads with 34.3 percent support, while progressive City Councilwoman Nithya Raman trails closely behind at 29 percent. Pratt sits in third place with 25.5 percent of the vote, according to data from The New York Times.

Despite losing to Raman by roughly 30,000 votes, Pratt held a significant early lead of nearly 10 points, generating a wave of excitement among Republicans who had grown fond of his personality and campaign, as he effectively turned Los Angeles into a campaign ad against Democratic incumbents and the policies many blame for the city’s decline.

Even Nithya Raman appeared to be bracing for defeat, tearfully thanking her supporters and staff for believing in her. But any expectation of a loss proved premature, as a wave of mail-in ballots counted over the weekend pushed Raman ahead in the race.

It remains unclear whether Pratt will remain active in politics in the near future. I, for one, would like to see a partnership with Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, as the pair would make for a formidable team as they fight against the single-party rule that defines the state of California.