Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has overtaken former reality television star Spencer Pratt for the second-place position in the city’s mayoral primary race. According to updated results released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk on Sunday afternoon, Raman now leads Pratt by 3,113 votes as the city processes ballots from the recent election.
Nithya Raman is the first South Asian councilwoman to serve at Los Angeles City Hall.
The Current State of the Race
With 83.2% of the expected vote now counted, Democratic incumbent Mayor Karen Bass maintains a significant lead with 250,871 votes, or 34.68%. While NBC News projected on election night that Bass would advance to the November runoff, the identity of her opponent remains officially unconfirmed by the network.
Raman currently holds 27.12% of the vote, while Pratt, a registered Republican, holds 26.69%. The shift follows a week of incremental gains for Raman, who trailed Pratt in early results. On Friday, Raman received twice as many votes as Pratt, and by Saturday, she had narrowed her deficit to approximately 7,500 votes before Sunday’s latest tally put her in the lead.
The transition of this race from a three-way contest to a potential head-to-head matchup between Bass and Raman carries significant weight for city policy. As campaigns pivot, the rhetoric from Bass’ team—which has already labeled Raman as a “general election opponent”—suggests that the incumbent is preparing for a shift toward ideological debates regarding housing, public safety, and immigration enforcement.
What Comes Next
While the final outcome is pending the remainder of the vote count, the Bass campaign has already begun addressing the prospect of a runoff against the councilmember. In a statement, campaign spokesperson Alex Stack criticized Raman’s record on issues including encampments near schools, police hiring, and local responses to federal immigration enforcement.
Analysts, including NBC4 political contributor Dr. Fernando Guerra, previously noted that trends favored Raman’s upward momentum. If the current lead holds, Raman is likely to secure the second spot in the November runoff. The Pratt campaign did not provide a response to requests for comment following the Sunday update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is currently leading the Los Angeles mayoral primary?
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is leading with 34.68% of the vote, based on 83.2% of the expected ballots counted as of Sunday afternoon.
How many votes currently separate Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt?
Nithya Raman is ahead of Spencer Pratt by 3,113 votes.
Have the candidates for the November runoff been finalized?
No. While Mayor Karen Bass is projected to advance, NBC News has not yet officially projected which candidate will face her in the November runoff.
How do you think the shift in the ballot count will influence the final weeks of the mayoral campaign?
