Los Angeles, California – A federal investigation into the integrity of California's primary elections has intensified following public allegations from Stephanie Pratt, a reality television personality, that she was denied the ability to vote for her brother, Spencer Pratt, in the city's recent mayoral contest. Her claims add a new dimension to an ongoing probe by federal prosecutor Bill Essayli, the top law enforcement official in Los Angeles.
"Folks, we’re dealing with a fraction of a percentage point difference. There’s still hundreds of thousands of votes outstanding, and LA officials have given us the next three weeks to count!" — Spencer Pratt, Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate
Stephanie Pratt stated publicly that she made two separate trips to polling places, intending to cast her vote for her brother, Spencer Pratt, who was a candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral race. According to her account, Spencer Pratt's name was absent from her ballot on both occasions. "I tried to vote twice for my brother with my Palisades address (I have my own home there)," Stephanie Pratt explained, emphasizing her status as a legitimate registered voter in the area. She further alleged that when she attempted a third time to vote after two failed efforts, poll workers prevented her from doing so. "He was NOT on the ballot either time and they told me I couldn’t try a 3rd time," she claimed.
These accusations surfaced amidst a broader federal inquiry into suspected election fraud in Los Angeles. Prosecutor Essayli's office had initiated multiple investigations prior to Stephanie Pratt's public statements. These probes were prompted by President Trump, who had publicly charged that Democratic operatives were working to manipulate California's primary elections and demanded accountability for such actions. Rather than pursuing a single, overarching conspiracy theory, Essayli’s team has reportedly adopted a methodical approach, focusing on specific actors. Their efforts include stationing monitors directly inside ballot counting facilities and advancing a disputed audit of the city’s voter registration database.
The timing of Stephanie Pratt's allegations was particularly notable. She went public with her claims just hours after a substantial influx of newly counted ballots was reported on a Monday. This ballot count effectively concluded her brother Spencer Pratt's campaign for mayor. The influx of votes propelled rival candidate Nithya Raman significantly ahead, ultimately eliminating Spencer Pratt from the race and securing Raman's place in a November runoff election. Raman is now set to face sitting Mayor Karen Bass, with whom she has a prior personal relationship, in the upcoming general election showdown.
Spencer Pratt had last been observed publicly in the affluent Santa Barbara corridor before the ballot count delivered its decisive verdict against his candidacy. What many political observers initially dismissed as an unconventional or even mock campaign eventually garnered considerable attention. Spencer Pratt's outspoken criticism of perceived failures in local leadership and his direct challenges to entrenched political figures resonated with a segment of the electorate, earning him a devoted base of supporters. These supporters rallied behind his unconventional approach to politics.
As the vote counts tightened, Spencer Pratt communicated a passionate message to his supporters, refusing to concede before every last vote had been tallied. "Folks, we’re dealing with a fraction of a percentage point difference," he informed them, adding, "There’s still hundreds of thousands of votes outstanding, and LA officials have given us the next three weeks to count!" He concluded his message with a distinct rallying cry: "Let’s git-r-dun!"
Federal investigators remain actively involved in Los Angeles as the counting process continues. Essayli’s office is maintaining close oversight of both ballots and voter registration records, indicating a sustained focus on ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in the city. The ongoing federal presence underscores the seriousness with which these allegations and the broader concerns about election procedures are being addressed at a national level.
