Dark lesson as Republican reality TV star floods voters with 'Gotham-grade dystopia'

A former Republican strategist admitted that a GOP mayoral candidate and former reality TV star might not win his election, but the "AI-generated Gotham-grade dystopia" he's created has "changed the game" for future political ads.

Rick Wilson, co-founder of the anti-Trump organization The Lincoln Project, described in his Substack on Friday how Spencer Pratt's decision to specifically message around crime during his Los Angeles mayoral campaign is something Democrats should pay attention to.

"Pratt’s message, delivered with a comic, postmodern AI flourish, is…and I cannot believe I’m typing this about a Hills alum…quite frankly very well done. It’s not an endorsement; it’s an observation," Wilson wrote.

"For a man who has no business being in a close second place, Pratt is doing something politically that Democrats should learn from once they’re done pretending that campaigns will stay the same, forever," Wilson explained.

Pratt, who announced his candidacy for Los Angeles mayor in 2026 as a political newcomer, has sought to bring attention to homelessness and other city issues. His campaign has garnered significant media attention due to his celebrity status and reality television past, though he faced skepticism from political observers regarding his lack of prior political experience and specific policy proposals.

"What’s the message? Crime makes the city unlivable. Filth makes the city unlivable. Bureaucracy makes the city unlivable. Kids are unsafe. You are unsafe. Decline is a choice. The ads themselves are the campaign. There is no campaign apart from the ads," Wilson added.