Full Breakdown
Nithya Raman Overtakes Spencer Pratt to Secure Runoff Spot Against Mayor Karen Bass
6/10/2026, 6:08:58 AM
Primary Outcome: Vote-count Shift
Los Angeles County’s registrar reported that incumbent Mayor Karen Bass led the June 2 primary with 34.68 % (?250,900 votes). Nithya Raman rose to second place with 27.12 % (?196,200 votes), while former reality-TV star Spencer Pratt fell to third with 26.69 % (?193,100 votes). The gap between Raman and Pratt narrowed to 3,100 votes after a series of mail-in ballot updates, and Raman’s share climbed to 28.55 % in the latest count, surpassing Pratt’s 25.83 %. As of the most recent update, about 368,000 ballots—roughly 20 % of the total—remain to be processed, extending the final certification deadline to June 26.
Background: Nonpartisan Race in a Deep-Blue City
Although the mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, candidates’ affiliations are clear: Bass is a Democrat, Raman is a Democratic Socialist and former DSA-endorsed councilmember, and Pratt is a registered Republican. California’s mail-in system, which accepts ballots postmarked by Election Day and received up to seven days later, typically benefits Democrats because many mail voters submit ballots later in the count. This dynamic explains Raman’s steady gains after election night.
Candidate Profiles
- Karen Bass – 72-year-old former U.S. Representative and former California Assembly Speaker; first Black woman mayor of Los Angeles, seeking a second term.
- Nithya Raman – 44-year-old city-council member (District 4), immigrant from India, Harvard- and MIT-educated urban planner; entered the race hours before the filing deadline after previously endorsing Bass.
- Spencer Pratt – 42-year-old reality-TV personality known from *The Hills*; ran as an independent Republican, emphasizing homelessness, public-safety, and criticism of Bass’s response to the 2025 Palisades fire.
Data & Statistics
- Total ballots processed: 1,897,653 (?32 % of registered voters).
- Votes counted for top three: Bass 34.68 %, Raman 27.12 %, Pratt 26.69 %.
- Remaining uncounted ballots: ?368,000 (?13 % of the electorate).
- Projected mail-in influence: Historically shifts results toward Democratic candidates in California’s “jungle primaries.”
Official Statements & Responses
Raman’s campaign thanked supporters, emphasizing a platform to “bring urgency, accountability, and focus” to address homelessness, housing, and public safety. Bass’s spokesperson Alex Stack warned that Raman “allows encampments near schools and fights against hiring more cops, yet is MIA on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades LA.” The Los Angeles County Registrar reiterated that each candidate received votes in every update, refuting claims of a zero-vote update for any candidate.
Criticism & Opposition
President Donald Trump and several GOP figures alleged “cheating” in the ballot count, prompting Bill Essayli, a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, to announce an investigation into alleged election fraud. Essayli later clarified that the claim of a zero-vote update was false, confirming that all candidates received votes in each tally. Pratt criticized Bass’s handling of the 2025 wildfire and homelessness, while Bass’s team framed Raman’s policies as “anti-public-safety.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Disagreement exists over the extent of alleged fraud; federal investigators have been opened but no specific violations have been disclosed.
- The exact number of outstanding mail-in and provisional ballots varies across sources (estimates range from 148,000 to 368,000).
- No official certification of the final vote totals has been issued pending the 30-day counting window.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Right now, we have a city that feels rudderless,” — Nithya Raman, CNN interview.
- “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.
- “I'm incredibly honored that voters have given us the opportunity to advance to the general election for Mayor of Los Angeles,” — Nithya Raman, statement to TheWrap.
- “evidence of election fraud in California,” — Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney (later clarified as false).
Why It Matters
The runoff will decide whether Los Angeles pursues Raman’s progressive agenda—halving tent encampments before the 2028 Olympics, expanding affordable housing, and reshaping public-safety funding—or continues Bass’s centrist approach that emphasizes incremental homelessness reductions and infrastructure projects. The outcome will also signal how effectively a city dominated by Democrats can accommodate a Republican challenger in a nonpartisan framework.
What’s Next
The November 3 runoff pits Bass against Raman. County officials will continue counting the remaining ballots, with final certification expected by June 26. Federal prosecutors are monitoring the election-integrity claims, and both campaigns are mobilizing for a high-stakes November contest that will shape Los Angeles’ policy direction for the next four years.
