She even filmed herself doing it. Those days are over.
In the contested arena of Los Angeles politics, reality television personality Spencer Pratt has lodged a formal election law complaint against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, alleging she violated California's prohibition on campaigning within 100 feet of a ballot box. The complaint, filed with both city and state authorities, arrives amid a heated mayoral race and speaks to a perennial tension in democratic life — the question of whether those who hold power are equally bound by the rules designed to protect the integrity of the vote. Bass's office has denied the allegations, and the matter now rests with election officials who must weigh the evidence and determine what the law demands.
- Spencer Pratt escalated his independent mayoral bid by filing a formal legal complaint accusing Mayor Bass of illegal electioneering captured on her own campaign video.
- California's 100-foot anti-campaigning buffer around ballot boxes exists precisely to prevent voter intimidation — and Pratt's attorney argues Bass crossed that line in plain sight.
- Bass's team fired back swiftly, calling the complaint 'blatantly false' and insisting the video was shot at two distinct locations, only one of which was near a ballot box — and without campaign signage.
- With complaints now lodged at both city and state levels, the dispute is migrating from social media sparring into formal investigative channels where video evidence will be scrutinized.
- The outcome may ripple beyond this race, potentially shaping how rigorously California enforces its electioneering restrictions in future elections.
Spencer Pratt, the reality television personality running as an independent candidate for Los Angeles mayor, filed a formal election law complaint this week against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. At the center of the allegation is a campaign video Bass posted that Pratt claims shows her encouraging voters while standing within 100 feet of a ballot box — a violation of California's strict electioneering laws. Pratt announced the complaint on social media, framing it as evidence of what he called Bass's habitual disregard for accountability.
Pratt's attorney, Peter McNulty, submitted the complaint to both city and state authorities, arguing that campaigning in such close proximity to voters risks intimidating and improperly influencing them — the very harm the 100-foot rule is designed to prevent. McNulty called for a formal investigation into what he characterized as illegal electioneering.
Bass's office pushed back firmly. Spokesperson Alex Stack told Fox News Digital that the complaint was 'blatantly false,' attributing it to Pratt's frustration with his own campaign. Stack maintained that the video was filmed at two separate locations: one more than 200 feet from the ballot box where campaign signs were visible, and another near the ballot box where no campaign signage appeared — a distinction Bass's team argues clears her of any violation.
The episode underscores the combative nature of the Los Angeles mayoral race and signals that both sides are prepared to use legal as well as political tools against each other. Election officials will now need to examine the video evidence and render a judgment — one that could carry consequences not only for the race itself, but for the broader enforcement of California's election integrity laws.
Spencer Pratt, the reality television personality now running for Los Angeles mayor as an independent candidate, filed a formal election law complaint against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass this week, accusing her of illegally campaigning within 100 feet of a ballot box. The 42-year-old posted his allegation on social media Tuesday, attaching a photograph of the complaint and a campaign video he said showed Bass violating California's strict electioneering restrictions.
Under state law, candidates are prohibited from soliciting votes or conducting campaign activity within 100 feet of any ballot box. Pratt's complaint centers on a video Bass posted that he argues captures her encouraging voters while positioned too close to a polling location. "She is so accustomed to breaking the law with no accountability, she even filmed herself doing it," Pratt wrote, adding that the violation demonstrated "a reckless disregard for the rule of law and our democratic process." He characterized the alleged breach as emblematic of what he called Bass's "mafia-like regime" and invoked the phrase "rules for thee, but not for me."
Pratt's attorney, Peter McNulty, filed complaints with both the city and state authorities. In his submission, McNulty argued that campaigning in close proximity to voters has the potential to intimidate and improperly influence them—the precise harm the 100-foot restriction is designed to prevent. He called for a formal investigation into what he termed "illegal electioneering."
Bass's office moved quickly to contest the characterization. Spokesperson Alex Stack told Fox News Digital that the complaint was "blatantly false" and that Pratt was simply frustrated by the state of his own campaign. Stack explained that the video in question was filmed at two separate locations: one positioned more than 200 feet from the ballot box, where campaign signage was visible, and another location adjacent to the ballot box where no campaign signs were present. The distinction, Bass's team argued, meant no violation occurred.
The dispute reflects the intensity of the Los Angeles mayoral race and the willingness of both camps to deploy legal and public relations strategies against each other. Pratt's complaint represents an escalation in his challenge to Bass, who has held the office since 2023. The filing with state authorities suggests the matter may now move beyond the immediate political arena into formal investigative channels, where election officials will need to examine the video evidence and determine whether the 100-foot rule was actually breached. The outcome could carry implications not just for the mayoral race itself, but for how strictly California enforces its electioneering restrictions going forward.
Notable Quotes
She is so accustomed to breaking the law with no accountability, she even filmed herself doing it.— Spencer Pratt
Spencer is just mad that his supporters are AI cartoons and we have real Angelenos. We follow the rules.— Alex Stack, Bass's spokesperson
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does the 100-foot rule exist in the first place?
It's meant to create a buffer zone where voters can make their choice without active campaigning happening right at the moment they're casting a ballot. The idea is that people are most vulnerable to influence when they're literally about to vote.
So the question becomes: where exactly was Bass when she was filmed?
That's the entire dispute. Pratt says she was too close. Bass says one location was well beyond the boundary and the other had no campaign materials present. Without seeing the video and the exact measurements, it's hard to know who's right.
Does it matter that she filmed it herself?
Pratt seems to think it does—that it shows carelessness or arrogance. But Bass's team would say it actually proves transparency. If she was breaking the law, why would she document it?
What happens now?
The complaint goes to city and state election authorities. They'll investigate, likely measure distances, review the video, and decide if a violation occurred. It could go nowhere, or it could result in a fine or other penalty.
Is this typical in mayoral races?
Election law complaints happen, but filing them is a calculated move. It signals to voters that you take rules seriously, but it also can look like you're trying to weaponize the system against your opponent.