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Spencer Pratt, the former reality TV star running for mayor of Los Angeles, said his political role model is “Jesus Christ” during an interview with celebrity.land on Wednesday, May 20
Pratt has likened his political rise to that of former President Barack Obama in previous interviews
A registered Republican, Pratt is running an independent campaign in L.A.’s nonpartisan mayoral race
Spencer Pratt, the former reality television star running to be the next mayor of Los Angeles, said his political role model is “Jesus Christ” after previously likening his path to politics to that of former President Barack Obama.
Pratt, who rose to prominence in the early aughts as the villain of MTV’s The Hills, named the religious leader as an exemplar of public service during an appearance on celebrity.land on Wednesday, May 20.
“He was a politician,” Pratt, 42, told journalist Elex Michaelson, when asked to name an officeholder he admires.
“Are there any modern politicians that you’re studying or drawn to?” Michaelson responded.
“No, I’m not a politician,” Pratt said. “I don’t want to be a politician. I want to be a fighter for the people.”
Pratt, a registered Republican, later said he’s “most similar” to Obama.
The former reality star, who is running an independent campaign in Los Angeles’ nonpartisan mayoral race, has compared his foray into politics with the former Democratic president’s in previous interviews.
“He had no experience running the whole entire country, which is way bigger than L.A.,” Pratt said of Obama, addressing his own lack of government experience, in an interview with CBS News this month.
Pratt waved off his inexperience again on Monday, telling Michaelson that he would work toward earning a law degree online before the general election this fall.
“Before November, I can probably get one,” Pratt said, adding that he would take the “baby bar,” an exam for aspiring attorneys pursuing a non-traditional legal education in California.
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Pratt, who announced his run for mayor in January, has positioned himself as a political outsider, campaigning on a largely anti-establishment platform and lobbing frequent criticism at the records of his two primary opponents, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman.
“People do not trust politicians anymore. They know I’m not a politician,” he said on Monday. Voters, Pratt added, “know that I’m authentic.”
“I’m doing this for my community, the city,” he said. “It’s real change I’m trying to put in place here. That’s why it’s resonating, because they know this isn’t a gig. I would much rather have a time machine and be feeding my hummingbirds and taking my kids to school. I was never going to run for any political office. I was never going to be the mayor of Los Angeles.”
Pratt has credited last winter’s wildfires, which destroyed his Pacific Palisades home, with inspiring his run for mayor. He said in an interview with comedian Adam Carolla this month that if Bass or Raman were to be elected, Pratt and his family would leave Los Angeles for good.
“I will not rebuild if these people are in charge,” he said.
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