Staff Reports
Los Angeles politics got a funny little reminder this week: sometimes the people trying to bury a candidate end up handing him a megaphone. A union‑backed independent ad meant to stop Spencer Pratt in his tracks instead went viral for all the wrong reasons. Newsmax’s own segment — featuring Jillian Michaels and Rob Schmitt — laughed at the ad’s tone while conservative voices piled on, saying the spot may have boosted Pratt more than it hurt him.
Union ad backfires, fuels Spencer Pratt name recognition
The ad was paid for by an independent committee called “LA Unions Opposed to Spencer Pratt for Mayor 2026,” sponsored by the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL‑CIO. Public filings show the group reported an initial digital buy of roughly $221,000. The spot’s voice‑over bluntly declares, “Republican Spencer Pratt is the last thing Los Angeles needs for mayor.” That line was supposed to scare voters. Instead, it read like free advertising.
Why the ad played like an endorsement
Here’s the simple math the unions forgot: many Los Angeles voters are fed up with visible homelessness, rising crime, and a city that feels out of control. When an ad attacks a candidate for wanting more police, opposing taxpayer‑funded housing boondoggles, and reining in union power, it can sound less like a warning and more like a promise. Add Pratt’s own viral AI “superhero” spot and a heated debate performance, and you have a reality‑TV figure turning every attack into more attention.
Media reaction and the campaign lesson
On Newsmax, Jillian Michaels laughed at the ad’s wording while Rob Schmitt parsed its lack of self‑awareness. Conservative commentators — and even Sen. Ted Cruz on X — warned the ad could “well elect Pratt.” That reaction shows why campaigns should think twice before spending six figures on a message that mirrors voters’ frustration. Negative ads can sometimes amplify the very ideas they set out to bury.
Make no mistake: unions have power and the LA Fed has deserved influence in city politics. But power doesn’t mean an ad buy is smart. This was a classic case of a political hammer looking for a nail and missing the point. If Democrats and their allies want to stop Spencer Pratt, they should stop pretending that blunt, tone‑deaf attack ads are the answer. Instead, try policy, persuasion, and a message that actually speaks to voters’ real concerns — or be prepared to watch your spending become the opposition’s campaign fund.
