Spencer Pratt succeeded in Wednesday night’s debate precisely because he’s not a politician.

I knew when he came out onstage within the first two minutes that he was going to blow them away.

Because he was speaking plain English — clearly and bluntly. There was no government-speak or bureaucratic-ese. It was just the truth that we all can see with our eyes.

Yeah, his opponents call him a “reality TV star.” But maybe we need someone who talks about reality.

Voters are tired of political elites who spend their lives jockeying for positions instead of doing anything useful. That’s why they’re willing to give outsiders a chance.

And in Spencer Pratt’s case, he didn’t come looking for politics. Politics came looking for him.

Like other residents of Pacific Palisades, he lived outside the political zone. He did his best to succeed, started a family, bought a house, enjoyed the view, and let the nerds do the debating.

Then came January 7, 2025. With no water in the reservoir, no fire engines on the mountain, and no mayor in town to respond, Palisades went up in smoke.

Spencer Pratt lost his home.

When something like that happens to you, you have a few choices. 

You can just move on quietly and try to pick up the pieces. Maybe elsewhere in LA. Maybe in a new state altogether. 

You can lament your fate and sit with your trauma. You can be a victim for the rest of your life. It won’t change anything, but no one can deny that to you.

Or you can do what Spencer Pratt did. You can decide to fight.

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You can stand up against the political machine and the media attacks and put everything on the line, including your pride, in a winner-takes-all contest.

You can make what happened to you into a motivating force for the whole city.

You can tell them that you never want to see anyone else in LA lose a home because of bad government and poor preparation.

You can take the time to listen to their stories — their frustrations with the city they love: the crime, the homelessness, the failing schools — all of it.

You can do the hard things — like going door-to-door to shake hands, in a city where everyone drives; and like asking for donations, in a town where people just try to keep their heads down.

That’s what he is doing. It’s like “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” — except Spencer Pratt isn’t going on a trip. He’s standing his ground and fighting for his home — and for our home town.

People get that. Which is why he’s connecting.

Career politicians: look out.

John Kobylt is the host of the John Kobylt Show on KFI in Los Angeles.