Full Breakdown
Los Angeles Mayoral Primary Tightens as Nithya Raman Narrows Gap on Spencer Pratt
6/7/2026, 8:34:32 PM
The Contest at a Glance
The June 2 top-two primary for Los Angeles mayor now hinges on second place. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads with roughly 35 % and is projected to advance. Councilmember Nithya Raman trails former reality-TV star Spencer Pratt by under 2 % in the latest counts.
Background & Context
Los Angeles uses a nonpartisan top-two system; if no candidate exceeds 50 % the top two advance to a November runoff. The 2022 race saw a late-count swing that overturned an early lead, leading analysts to expect mail-in ballots—counted up to a week after Election Day—to favor Democratic-leaning candidates.
Key Figures & Groups
Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat and former U.S. representative, holds about 35 % of the vote. Councilmember Nithya Raman, a progressive Democrat and DSA member, is at roughly 25-26 %. Spencer Pratt, a registered Republican and former MTV personality, is at about 27-28 %. Data analyst Paul Mitchell (Political Data Inc.) and political consultant Zev Yaroslavsky (UCLA Luskin) have been commenting on the race.
Vote Count and Numbers
By June 6 the registrar had processed 156,965 ballots (30.12 % of voters) of a total 1,774,846. Leads differ: Fox LA shows Pratt ahead by 20,672 votes; the AP notes a 7,494-vote gap; earlier tallies showed a 33,076-vote difference. With 71-78 % counted, an estimated 543,000-713,000 ballots remain.
Official Statements
Registrar Dean Logan said, “We have to make sure the ballots that were received latest in the process receive the same level of diligence, security and transparency as those cast three weeks earlier.” Governor Gavin Newsom’s office added, “We’d also like to remind the President that HE HIMSELF VOTED BY MAIL.”
Criticism & Opposition
Republican leaders, including former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, called the prolonged count “embarrassing” and urged reforms. President Donald Trump alleged fraud without evidence. Pratt posted a meme, “Me trying to figure out how votes get counted in LA.” Analyst Paul Mitchell warned Pratt’s share “has been losing … with every one of these new ballot dumps.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Pratt’s share (27.3 % vs 28.2 %) and Raman’s (25 % vs 26.2 %). Outstanding ballots range from 543,000 to over 713,000, creating uncertainty about Raman overtaking Pratt. Certification will wait until the county finishes its 30-day canvass, likely early July.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm ready for whatever god puts in front of me,” — Spencer Pratt
- “Spencer Pratt has been losing share of the vote with every one of these new ballot dumps, and we expect that to continue,” — Paul Mitchell, Political Data Inc.
- “Accuracy comes before speed,” — Shirley Weber, Secretary of State
- “I think she has a shot at catching Pratt but I think it's a long shot,” — Zev Yaroslavsky, UCLA Luskin
What’s Next
The registrar will continue counting the remaining mail-in and provisional ballots through early July. If Raman surpasses Pratt, the November runoff will pit her against Bass; otherwise Pratt will face Bass, shaping the city’s policy agenda.
