AI has invaded the L.A. mayor's race. Some fear it's just the beginning
Key takeaways
- Dressed in a Jedi robe, he swoops through the city on an Imperial speeder bike, as California Gov.
- “Make sure you finish the job in your second,” Newsom tells Bass with a tilt of the head and a smirk.
- “The only thing that can stop us is someone telling the truth,” Bass replies. “As long as they don’t have any hope, the city’s ours.”
Spencer Pratt poses for a portrait where his home once stood on Jan. 12 in Pacific Palisades. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times) By Jenny Jarvie National Correspondent Follow May 18, 2026 3 AM PT Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print AI-powered, fan-made videos casting long-shot mayoral contender Spencer Pratt as Batman and Luke Skywalker are electrifying L.A.’s race, blurring lines between Hollywood spectacle, political messaging and online meme culture.Experts warn the surge of hyper-cinematic, user-generated deepfakes heightens risks of voter deception amid a patchwork of state rules, weak platform guardrails and unresolved 1st Amendment battles over regulating synthetic media.So far, evidence suggests AI ads mobilize partisan bases more than persuade skeptics, raising doubts that Pratt’s viral fantasies — not his fire-scarred biography and policy ideas — will translate millions of views into actual votes. p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix mb-10 md:max-w-170 md:mx-auto" data-subscriber-content> The Hollywood sign is ablaze as Spencer Pratt, the reality TV star now running for mayor of Los Angeles, suits up as Batman, enters City Hall and leads the people to overthrow a cabal of corrupt, out-of-touch progressives intent on destroying the city.
Then he is Luke Skywalker. Dressed in a Jedi robe, he swoops through the city on an Imperial speeder bike, as California Gov. Gavin Newsom (Emperor Palpatine) rebukes incumbent Mayor Karen Bass (Darth Vader) for not burning the city down to the ground in her first term.
“Make sure you finish the job in your second,” Newsom tells Bass with a tilt of the head and a smirk.