Raman overtakes Pratt in Los Angeles mayoral primary as vote count progresses

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has risen to second place in the mayoral primary, edging out reality‑TV personality Spencer Pratt after five days of vote counting. The latest figures from the Los Angeles Registrar‑Recorder show Raman with 27.1% of the votes counted and Pratt with 26.7%, a margin of about 3,100 votes. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads with 34.7% and is already confirmed for the November 3 runoff.

"The odds have shifted dramatically in Raman’s favor," said Zev Yaroslavsky, a former council member who runs 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 gratitude for the latest count, noting the support of thousands of voters. Bass’s spokesperson, Alex Stack, warned that a Raman runoff opponent would oppose encampments near schools, resist hiring more police officers, and be absent on issues such as Hollywood jobs and ICE actions.

Mail‑in ballots with a June 2 postmark will continue to be processed through Tuesday, with county officials estimating roughly 368,000 ballots remain. Analysts attribute Raman’s surge to progressive voters, who tend to hold mail‑in ballots longer than the conservative base that favored Pratt early on.

Political observers compared the pattern to the 2022 mayoral race, where incumbent Bass similarly overtook early leader Rick Caruso as mail‑in ballots were counted. Michael Trujillo, a strategist not affiliated with any campaign, said Pratt’s chances of reclaiming second place appear slim.

The race has drawn national attention, with former President Donald Trump offering vague support for Pratt, describing him as a "big MAGA person." Pratt responded on social media that vote counting will continue and hinted at additional support.

If Raman secures a runoff spot, a UC Berkeley poll suggests she could challenge Bass, though the poll also notes a sizable share of undecided or non‑voting respondents.

The campaign has highlighted disagreements over homelessness, affordable housing, police staffing, and the Convention Center project, while both candidates defend their records on these issues.