Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha said the Los Angeles mayoral and California gubernatorial elections are both “in play” for Republicans because of messages that are resonating with voters.
“California, which you would think would be the most safe blue state, and Los Angeles, the most safe blue city in the country, they’re both now in play,” Concha said on Fox & Friends First Tuesday. “Steve Hilton is at the top of the polls as far as the gubernatorial race, and now Spencer Pratt.”
Hilton and Democratic candidate, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, are tied for the top spot in the gubernatorial race, with 18% ahead of the June 2 primary, according to the latest California Democratic Party poll published Monday.
Concha cited the state’s mismanagement as a reason voters want to elect someone outside the Democratic Party.
“Everything is in play at this point in California because it is so mismanaged, especially Los Angeles, especially after those devastating wildfires that occurred 16 months ago,” Concha said.
At the local level, Concha praised former reality star Spencer Pratt’s campaign for Los Angeles mayor, saying Pratt’s commercials “resonate” with voters.
Pratt, an outspoken critic of California’s response to the wildfires, released an ad last week highlighting the destruction that remains almost two years later.
In the ad, the reality star is seen outside a mobile home on the land where his house stood before it was burned down in the California wildfires.
“The ad really, really resonates with California residents to the point where no one is thinking Democrat or Republican anymore. I think they’re thinking who can rebuild the palisades, who can help rebuild this city, and who can save California from itself,” Concha said.
Concha said campaigns, including Pratt’s and Hilton’s, show California is “in play” for Republicans.
“Between Hilton and now Pratt, I think they both have really, really good shots of winning these races, despite the letter next to their name,” Concha said.
CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFULS CONTEND WITH BACK-TO-BACK DEBATES WITH FINISH LINE IN SIGHT
Concha argued people shouldn’t count Pratt out of the election because of his reality television background, because President Donald Trump faced the same criticisms when he jumped into politics.
“There’s currently a president that was a reality TV star that no one thought would win an election in Donald Trump, and look where he is now in his second term,” Concha said.