Mauricio Umansky is weighing in on Lisa Rinna’s criticism of Spencer Pratt’s run for mayor of Los Angeles — and the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills personalities clearly didn’t see the issue the same way.
During a May appearance on Tomi Lahren Is Fearless, Umansky was shown comments Rinna made about Pratt, who had launched a campaign for Los Angeles mayor earlier in 2026. Rinna, who starred on RHOBH alongside Umansky’s estranged wife Kyle Richards, said she had not decided whom she would support but knew one thing: she didn’t want another reality television personality in office. Fox News
“I love him, but we’ve already done that. We’re not going to do that again,” Rinna said of Pratt during a May red-carpet interview with Variety. She also pointed to her own career in unscripted television, joking that voters wouldn’t want her running their city either. Her remarks appeared to reference President Donald Trump’s transition from The Apprentice to the White House. Us
Mauricio Defends Spencer
Umansky pushed back on the idea that a candidate’s reality television background should automatically count against them.
His reaction came as Pratt’s campaign had become a significant storyline in Los Angeles politics. Pratt, best known for The Hills, entered the race after losing his Pacific Palisades home in the January 2025 wildfires. His campaign focused heavily on dissatisfaction with city leadership and issues including homelessness, public safety and Los Angeles’ business environment. Los Angeles Times
Pratt ultimately did not advance to the November runoff. The Associated Press reported in June that incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman advanced instead. The Washington Post
But Umansky’s response to Rinna was especially notable because Pratt wasn’t the only reality television personality considering a move into politics.
Mauricio Says He Has Considered Running For Mayor
During the same conversation with Lahren, Umansky revealed that he had considered running for mayor of Los Angeles himself.
The real estate executive described himself as a registered independent and discussed a platform centered on bringing business back to Los Angeles while addressing crime and homelessness. He said that if he ultimately decided to enter politics, it would be in a future mayoral race rather than the 2026 contest.
For Umansky, preparing for a campaign would mean getting both his business and personal life ready before making the leap.
The revelation creates an interesting wrinkle in his disagreement with Rinna: her argument centered on keeping reality personalities out of elected office, while Umansky appears to view a television résumé as separate from whether someone could potentially serve in government.
Of course, Umansky’s comments amount to consideration — not a campaign announcement. He has not announced a candidacy.
Reality TV And Politics Continue To Collide
The exchange also reflects a larger conversation that surrounded Pratt’s campaign: whether celebrity and reality television experience should matter when voters evaluate candidates.
Rinna’s position was straightforward. She said she likes Pratt personally but did not believe another reality personality was what Los Angeles needed.
Umansky took a different view, defending Pratt while acknowledging his own interest in potentially making the same transition from reality television and business into politics.
And although Pratt’s 2026 mayoral campaign has already ended, Umansky’s comments leave open the possibility that Los Angeles could see another familiar Bravo-adjacent name on a future ballot.
For now, however, it’s only an idea he says he is considering — not an official run. Fox News
What do you think: Should someone’s reality TV background matter when deciding whether they’re qualified to run for public office?