Spencer Pratt Skips Fox 11’s LA Mayoral Debate Amid Strong Poll Performance

Fox 11 has announced that its next Los Angeles mayoral debate will take place this Wednesday, May 13, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PT, but reality TV personality Spencer Pratt will not attend.

The network confirmed on Monday that the debate would feature four leading candidates: Mayor Karen Bass, Rev. Rae Huang, entrepreneur Adam Miller, and Councilmember Nithya Raman.

According to Fox 11, Pratt was also invited but declined due to a prior scheduling conflict. Representatives for Pratt did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Pratt’s Strong Debut in First Debate

Pratt’s absence follows his impressive performance in his first debate on Wednesday, May 6, hosted by NBC4 Los Angeles. The station conducted an online poll asking viewers to vote on the debate’s winner, with Pratt receiving an overwhelming 89% of the votes. Mayor Bass trailed far behind at 7%, followed by Raman at 4%.

The poll results were recorded as of Thursday at 10 a.m. PT, according to NBC4 Los Angeles.

Media Analysts Praise Pratt’s Debate Performance

Melanie Mason, California bureau chief for Politico, told CNN’s Elex Michaelson on Wednesday that Pratt “passed the test” during the debate.

“The expectations are different for Spencer Pratt than they are for the incumbent mayor of Los Angeles or a relatively longtime city councilmember. He’s a novice to politics … but I think people wanted to see what this bombastic social media personality would do onstage.”

Michaelson added that Pratt effectively channeled the frustration many Angelenos feel about the city’s current state, noting that his skills as a communicator on social media and television contributed to his strong showing.

Upcoming Debate Details

Fox 11 will host the debate in partnership with the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs and the League of Women Voters of Greater Los Angeles. The event will air live on Fox 11, with anchors Marla Tellez and Bob DeCastro moderating the forum.