Full Breakdown
Nithya Raman Overtakes Spencer Pratt for Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff Spot
6/8/2026, 5:59:48 AM
Core Result
Los Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has moved into second place in the June 2026 mayoral primary, surpassing former reality-TV personality Spencer Pratt by roughly 3,100 votes. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass remains first with about 34.7 % of the vote, securing her place in the November runoff.
Election Context
The race is officially nonpartisan, but candidates are identified by party affiliation on the ballot: Bass and Raman are Democrats, while Pratt is a registered Republican. California’s mail-in system delays final tallies; ballots postmarked by Election Day may be counted for up to a week afterward. Historically, late-counted mail ballots favor Democratic candidates, a pattern reflected in the shifting leads.
Candidate Snapshots
- Nithya Raman – 44-year-old councilwoman, member of the Democratic Socialists of America, positioned as a progressive challenger focused on housing, homelessness, and city services.
- Spencer Pratt – 42-year-old former “The Hills” star, running as a Republican outsider emphasizing crime reduction and criticism of Bass’s pandemic-era policies.
- Karen Bass – 72-year-old incumbent, former U.S. Representative, highlighted for reductions in homelessness and approval of a $2.6 billion Convention Center upgrade.
Vote-Count Timeline
- Election night (June 2): Pratt led the second-place slot; Raman trailed in third.
- June 5–6: Raman narrowed the gap, entering within one percentage point of Pratt as 77–78 % of ballots were reported.
- June 7 (latest update): Raman recorded 27.12 % (?196,200 votes) versus Pratt’s 26.69 % (?193,100 votes). The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk reported 34.68 % for Bass (?250,900 votes).
Numbers at a Glance
- Ballots counted: Sources cite 78 % (Variety), 83 % (Washington Examiner), and 80 % (Associated Press).
- Remaining ballots: Estimates range from “just over 100,000” (NBC News) to “under 150,000” (AP) and “nearly 200,000” (NY Post).
- Mail-in impact: Analysts attribute Raman’s gain to late-counted Democratic mail ballots.
Implications for Runoff
If Raman advances, the runoff will pit two Democrats with divergent platforms—Bass’s centrist record versus Raman’s progressive agenda. A Pratt runoff would present a conservative challenge to Bass, emphasizing law-and-order themes. Policy stakes include housing construction, homelessness encampments, police hiring, entertainment-industry jobs, and ICE enforcement.
Official Statements & Responses
- Raman: “We are encouraged by the latest vote count and remain grateful to the thousands of Angelenos who have powered this campaign.”
- Bass campaign (spokesperson Alex Stack): Criticized Raman for “allowing encampments near schools, fighting against hiring more cops, yet being MIA on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades LA.”
- Pratt: Posted on X that “they’re not the only ones who know where to find votes,” and later suggested possible fraud involving homeless voters.
- Donald Trump: Alleged “big cheating by the Democrats in California,” prompting a DOJ audit announced by U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
Criticism & Opposition
Bass’s team framed Raman’s policies as jeopardizing public safety and economic recovery. Pratt’s campaign questioned the legitimacy of late-counted ballots, echoing broader Republican claims of election fraud. Federal investigators have opened a review of California’s voter rolls, though no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Ballot totals: Sources differ on the number of uncounted ballots (?100 k–200 k).
- Counting percentages: Reported completion ranges from 78 % to 83 %.
- Fraud allegations: Pratt and Trump assert irregularities, while election officials and the AP note a lack of substantiating data.
- Final timeline: No definitive date for the complete count; the race remains officially unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “we are encouraged by the latest vote count and remain grateful to the thousands of Angelenos who have powered this campaign.” — Nithya Raman, candidate
- “We look forward to winning a contest against an opponent who allows encampments near schools and fights against hiring more cops, yet is MIA on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades LA,” — Alex Stack, Bass campaign spokesperson
- “They’re not the only ones who know where to find votes,” — Spencer Pratt, candidate (X post)
- “big cheating by the Democrats in California,” — Donald Trump, former President (public statement)
- “It appears Nithya will be in the runoff.” — Michael Trujillo, Democratic political consultant
What’s Next
County officials will continue processing the remaining ballots over the next week, after which the final list of runoff candidates will be certified. Ongoing federal inquiries may affect public confidence, and both campaigns are preparing for a November contest that could reshape Los Angeles governance.
