Spencer Pratt, a conservative social media personality, was leading Nithya Raman in the Los Angeles mayoral race based on Election Day returns. However, as mail-in ballots were counted over subsequent days, Raman overtook Pratt to win the race. CNN political commentator Scott Jennings argued that this outcome illustrates broader concerns about universal mail-in voting practices.
Universal mail-in voting is currently practiced in a small number of states, with California being by far the largest. Under this system, ballots are mailed to all registered voters by default rather than requiring voters to request them. The practice has become an increasingly prominent feature of American elections over recent years.
What the Left Is Saying
Proponents of mail-in voting argue that it expands access to the ballot box and makes it easier for working people, those with disabilities, and rural residents to participate in elections. Democrats have generally supported universal vote-by-mail as a tool to increase turnout, arguing that making voting more convenient strengthens democratic participation.
California Democratic officials have defended the state's mail-in voting system as secure and legal. The state has used universal mail-in voting for several election cycles, with state officials maintaining that robust verification procedures ensure ballot integrity. Supporters note that the shift in late-counted ballots favoring Raman is consistent with known voting patterns, where Republican voters are more likely to cast ballots on Election Day while Democratic voters more frequently use mail-in options.
Some observers have also noted that California's chaotic gubernatorial race, which saw multiple candidates including Eric Swalwell drop out and featured candidates like Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, and Xavier Becerra, may have led some Democratic voters to wait until closer to election day to finalize their choices in that contest while still mailing ballots promptly.
What the Right Is Saying
Scott Jennings argued on CNN that universal mail-in voting is eroding public trust in American elections. 'Mailing by default millions of ballots to people's homes is just going to raise eyebrows,' Jennings said. He posed questions about ballot chain-of-custody: 'Who fills them out? Who turns them in?'
Conservatives have pointed to the timing of late-counted ballots as raising legitimate concerns. Republican voters, following guidance from former President Donald Trump and other party leaders, were encouraged to vote in-person rather than by mail. This creates a structural advantage for Democratic candidates when mail-in ballots are counted after Election Day returns.
Jennings argued that ongoing ballot counts days and weeks after Election Day undermine the public's ability to have confidence in results. 'Our country cannot serve if half the population has no faith in the outcome of our elections,' he stated. However, Jennings also urged Pratt supporters against 'sore-loser-ism' and explicitly rejected assertions that the election was unfair simply because their preferred candidate lost.
What the Numbers Show
California is one of only a handful of states practicing universal mail-in voting, where ballots are automatically sent to all registered voters. The state has been using this system for multiple election cycles. According to exit polling and voting pattern analysis from past elections, Republican voters have historically been more likely to vote on Election Day, while Democratic voters show higher rates of mail-in ballot usage.
The specific margin between Pratt and Raman in the Los Angeles mayoral race was not quantified in available reporting. The shift from Pratt leading based on Election Day returns to Raman winning after mail-in ballots were counted represented a significant reversal in the apparent outcome as counting progressed.
The Bottom Line
The debate over universal mail-in voting reflects a broader partisan divide over election administration. Democrats generally view expanded mail-in voting as increasing access and participation, while Republicans have raised concerns about chain-of-custody and public confidence when results shift after Election Day.
Jennings' comments come as several states continue to debate whether to expand or contract mail-in voting options. The tension between convenience-based voting access and maintaining clear, timely election results remains a point of contention in American politics.