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Spencer Pratt set off a firestorm this week when he suggested late vote updates in the Los Angeles mayoral primary looked fishy. The Internet ate it up — screenshotted “zero votes” claims, taunts from Pratt himself and a prime-time slot on Benny Johnson’s show all added gasoline to a smoldering rumor. The result: federal prosecutors had to weigh in, and conservative outlets that boosted the story now look like they ran before checking the map.
What Spencer Pratt Said — And How It Spread
Pratt, a reality-TV alum turned mayoral candidate, posted reaction images and snarky comments about late ballot updates, including the meme-like line, “Me trying to figure out how votes get counted in LA.” A screenshot that appeared to show “0 out of 24,000” votes for Pratt went viral. Conservative commentators and social accounts, including a clip on Benny Johnson’s program, amplified the image fast and loud. When a campaign touts “election integrity” and then promotes a misleading snapshot, it’s not clever—it’s reckless.
What Officials and Fact-Checkers Found
The Los Angeles County Registrar’s official results — and the Associated Press consolidated feed — tell a different story. What looked like a single update showing “zero” was actually two automated updates arriving minutes apart. Taken together, the updates included the votes some posts said were missing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli reviewed county records and publicly said the viral claim was false. Multiple fact-checkers reached the same conclusion: a timing quirk, not a nefarious ballot dump.
Why Conservatives Should Care — And Be Careful
We should demand clean, honest elections. That’s not negotiable. But credibility matters too. When conservative voices push flimsy screenshots and wild implications, they hand the media and the left easy talking points. Pratt is running against Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman in a crowded race. If he wants to lead on election integrity, he should lead by example — not by broadcasting half-baked conspiracies that even federal prosecutors quickly debunked.
Practical Fixes and the Bottom Line
Election officials and the media both share blame. Counties should make live feeds clearer and stamp updates with fuller context so one-minute lags don’t become conspiracy fuel. Conservative media must vet claims before amplifying them, especially when DOJ announcements can follow. Voters who care about the LA mayoral race should consult the Los Angeles County Registrar’s official results page for the final numbers. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors say they will follow credible evidence. If real wrongdoing turns up, deal with it. But until then, let’s keep our outrage honest and our reporting honest-er.
