Raman Surges Past Pratt in Los Angeles Mayoral Primary as Progressive Momentum Grows
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Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has overtaken Spencer Pratt in the mayoral primary, signaling a powerful shift toward progressive values and a potential challenge to the establishment incumbent, Karen Bass.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has surged into second place in the mayoral primary, surpassing reality-TV personality Spencer Pratt after five days of meticulous vote counting. The latest data from the Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder reveal Raman with 27.1% of the votes, compared to Pratt’s 26.7%—a margin of about 3,100 votes. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads with 34.7% and is already set for the November 3 runoff, but the progressive base is making its presence felt.
"The odds have shifted dramatically in Raman’s favor," said Zev Yaroslavsky, a former council member and director of the Los Angeles Initiative at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. "She has been gaining on Pratt for the last three or four days. There’s no reason to believe that will change."
Raman’s campaign expressed deep gratitude for the groundswell of support, highlighting the thousands of voters who are demanding real change. Meanwhile, Bass’s spokesperson, Alex Stack, attempted to paint Raman as an opponent of increased police funding and a defender of unhoused Angelenos, warning she would resist more officers and oppose punitive measures like encampment bans near schools. Stack also accused Raman of being absent on issues like Hollywood jobs and ICE actions, a thinly veiled attack on her refusal to capitulate to reactionary pressure.
Mail-in ballots postmarked June 2 will continue to be processed through Tuesday, with county officials estimating about 368,000 ballots remain. Analysts attribute Raman’s surge to the city’s progressive voters, who are more likely to vote by mail and hold their ballots longer than the conservative base that initially buoyed Pratt.
Political observers drew parallels to the 2022 mayoral race, when Bass overtook early right-wing favorite Rick Caruso as mail-in ballots were counted. Michael Trujillo, a strategist unaffiliated with any campaign, noted that Pratt’s chances of regaining second place are slim.
The race has attracted national attention, with former President Donald Trump offering vague support for Pratt, calling him a "big MAGA person." Pratt’s response on social media, emphasizing ongoing vote counting and hinting at more support, underscores the right’s desperation.
Should Raman secure a runoff spot, a UC Berkeley poll suggests she could mount a serious challenge to Bass, though a significant share of voters remain undecided or disengaged.
The campaign has centered on critical issues like homelessness, affordable housing, police staffing, and the Convention Center project. Both candidates defend their records, but Raman’s rise signals a demand for bold, people-first solutions and a break from establishment politics.