Nithya Raman, a left-leaning Los Angeles City Councilmember aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, has advanced to November's mayoral runoff after nearly a week of counting late-arriving ballots, overtaking Republican candidate Spencer Pratt and effectively ending his campaign for the city's top office. With 83% of votes tallied as of Sunday, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass holds a commanding lead while Raman edged past Pratt by roughly 4,000 votes to secure second place.
The June 2 nonpartisan primary determined which two candidates will face off in November against Democrat Karen Bass under California's top-two system, which advances the highest vote-getters regardless of party affiliation if no candidate exceeds 50%. Pratt, a reality television personality who captured national attention with his debate performances and viral advertisements criticizing the city's quality of life, held a lead of nearly ten points on Election Day before Raman steadily gained ground with each subsequent ballot count.
What the Right Is Saying
Pratt joined President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders in questioning California's lengthy vote-counting process. He responded to a social media post noting that late-arriving mail ballots had shifted the race by more than 43,000 votes since Tuesday by suggesting on X that Democrats were manipulating outcomes: "A net swing of more than 43,000 votes since Tuesday... 43,000, huh? Where have I seen that number before? Probably nothing."
Trump amplified these concerns across his platforms, posting on Truth Social that "Look what's happening in California, the Dumocrats, right before our very eyes, are stealing the vote." The President stormed out of a 'Meet the Press' interview that aired Sunday over election integrity issues in California. Republicans nationwide argued that the dramatic shift in results after Election Day erodes public confidence in electoral outcomes, particularly in a state where registered Democrats significantly outnumber Republicans.
What the Left Is Saying
Raman positioned herself as a progressive alternative to Bass, campaigning to peel away support from the mayor's left flank. She launched a last-minute challenge that proved successful as vote counting revealed late-arriving mail ballots heavily favored her campaign. Addressing supporters in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night, Raman fought back tears while framing the race as a fight for a city worthy of its residents and their children.
Democrats broadly defended California's vote-counting process against Republican criticism, pointing to the state's extensive vote-by-mail system and legal grace period that allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within days. The California Democratic Party and progressive groups argued that the extended timeline reflects deliberate policy choices rather than irregularities, noting that Republicans have previously won races in California under the same system.
What the Numbers Show
With 83% of votes counted as of Sunday's projection: Mayor Karen Bass holds 34.7% of the vote; Nithya Raman has secured second place at 27.1%; Spencer Pratt places third with 26.7%. The margin between Raman and Pratt is approximately 4,000 votes based on current tallies. On Election Night, Pratt led by nearly ten points before subsequent ballot counts shifted the race decisively in Raman's favor.
California allows mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive within several days, a policy that creates extended vote-counting periods for elections with high mail-in participation. Republicans constitute approximately 15% of registered voters in Los Angeles, making party identification alone insufficient for victory in the heavily Democratic city. The top-two system means both Raman and Bass will appear on the November ballot regardless of their partisan affiliations.
The Bottom Line
Pratt's campaign ends without a path to the runoff after weeks of riding high poll numbers and viral social media engagement that brought national attention to his candidacy. His focus on homelessness, crime, and affordability resonated with some voters but ultimately fell short in a city where progressive policies dominate municipal politics. Raman's advancement sets up what will be a contest between two left-leaning candidates, with Bass seeking reelection against a challenger from her own ideological flank rather than the center-right.
The coming weeks will likely see intensified Republican criticism of California's vote-counting procedures ahead of other 2026 races, while Democrats will point to the outcome as validation of their ground game and mail ballot operations. What remains clear is that both candidates advancing to November support significant changes from current city approaches on homelessness and public safety, meaning Los Angeles voters will choose between two visions for addressing the city's most pressing challenges regardless of party label.