Key keywords: Katharine McPhee, Spencer Pratt, Malibu mayoral campaign, lavish political fundraiser, celebrity serenade, 2024 Malibu local election, celebrity political endorsement, campaign fundraising record, Malibu coastal protection policy On Saturday evening, a star-studded crowd gathered at a private oceanfront estate in Malibu for the most high-profile campaign event of the 2024 Malibu mayoral race: a lavish $2,500-per-head fundraiser for former reality star Spencer Pratt, headlined by a surprise serenade from Grammy-nominated singer and longtime Malibu resident Katharine McPhee. Pratt, who rose to fame in the 2000s hit reality series *The Hills*, announced his run for Malibu mayor earlier this year, running on a platform focused on aggressive coastal ecosystem protection, stricter regulation of short-term vacation rentals that have driven up local housing costs, increased funding for Malibu’s public K-12 schools, and expanded wildfire prevention infrastructure for the fire-prone coastal city. McPhee, who has been close friends with Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag for over a decade, told reporters ahead of her performance that she volunteered to take the stage after hearing Pratt’s policy proposals, noting that she and her family have lived in Malibu for 14 years and were displaced during the 2018 Woolsey Fire, making her particularly passionate about Pratt’s wildfire prevention plans. Her 20-minute set included performances of her breakout 2007 hit *Over It*, a soulful cover of *Somewhere Over the Rainbow*, and a custom-written verse referencing Pratt’s reality TV origins that drew raucous cheers from the 300-person crowd, which included local business owners, Hollywood industry figures, and representatives from multiple Malibu environmental nonprofits. Pratt’s campaign team confirmed after the event that the fundraiser raised over $1.2 million, the largest single-event fundraising haul for any Malibu mayoral candidate in the city’s history. The funds will be allocated to local TV and radio ad buys, community town hall events across Malibu’s different neighborhoods, and printed materials outlining Pratt’s policy proposals for undecided voters. During his closing speech at the event, Pratt thanked McPhee for her support, telling the crowd, “Katharine isn’t just here as a celebrity guest—she’s here as a neighbor who cares as much as I do about making sure Malibu stays the beautiful, safe community we all love. This support isn’t just about star power, it’s about showing that local people who love this city are ready to show up for change.” Early polling ahead of the November election shows Pratt currently holds a 12-point lead over his closest rival, with 28% of voters still undecided.