The Los Angeles Mayor’s race has officially scrambled conventional wisdom over Hollywood’s political leanings.
On Thursday it was revealed that one time Democratic power player Nicole Avant is now backing former reality TV star Spencer Pratt’s bid to become the next mayor of LA. The news sent shockwaves through Hollywood’s donor class.
One time Democratic power player Nicole Avant (right) is now backing former reality TV star Spencer Pratt’s bid to become the next mayor of LA. Getty Images for Netflix “What the f–k?” said one veteran political consultant upon hearing the news that Avant was backing Pratt.
Said another veteran manager active in local politics: “She’s crossing a line she won’t be able to come back from. She’s done as a Democratic donor. She might as well register as a Republican.”
Former reality TV star Spencer Pratt is running to become the next mayor of Los Angeles. WWD via Getty Images Andrew Ross Sorkin‘s Dealbook reported yesterday that Avant plans to support Pratt, though she has yet to give money. A representative for Avant declined to comment when asked by Page Six Hollywood about Sorkin’s report.
In one sense it’s surprising that Avant — the Hollywood scion and wife of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos who served as an ambassador during the Obama administration — would support Pratt, who has run a populist campaign that’s channeled the anger and resentment over the city’s response to the Palisades and Eaton Fires.
On the other hand, Avant did back Rick Caruso in the last mayoral race and was also seen last month at a gathering for Donald Trump-endorsed California GOP gubernatorial frontrunner Steve Hilton.
Said a political insider of Avant: “She got behind Caruso who lost by 9.5 points, and he had Kim Kardashian, Snoop Dogg and Katy Perry. It didn’t do anything and it shows this real misunderstanding of who votes in this city. Are they winning social media and videos? Or are they winning votes? The people who vote are not in the Hollywood Hills of LA.”
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To be clear, Avant wouldn’t be the only bold-faced name to back Pratt. Those who’ve given the candidate cash, according to records, include billionaires Dan Loeb, Bobby Kotick, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Haim Saban, as well as music industry icon Lucian Grainge, the Lakers’ Jeanie Buss, Ring founder Mark Pincus, Tinder founder Sean Rad, Atlantic Records CEO Jamie Siminoff, producer Brian Grazer, former sitcom star Justine Bateman and Katherine McPhee and her husband David Foster.
The latest Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics poll, which was released on Wednesday, shows current LA mayor Karen Bass leading the field in her re-election bid with 30% support, followed by Pratt’s 22% and LA City Councilwoman Nithya Raman in third place with 19%.
Raman is going on Hasan Piker‘s show Friday, a source from her campaign tells us.
