Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman is rapidly narrowing the gap against mayoral rival Spencer Pratt as the city’s primary vote count continues. With 78 percent of ballots processed, Raman has secured 177,000 votes, or 26 percent of the total, putting her just 7,500 votes behind Pratt. While incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has already secured a spot in the runoff with 35 percent of the vote, nearly 200,000 outstanding ballots leave open the possibility that Raman could overtake Pratt for the second runoff position.
The Closing Gap in the Mayoral Race
The trajectory of the race has shifted significantly since Election Night, when Spencer Pratt held a 10-point lead. That margin has steadily consolidated to seven points on Wednesday, six on Thursday, three on Friday, and one on Saturday. Given that late-arriving ballots are typically expected to favor Democratic candidates, analysts suggest Raman may pass Pratt once the final tally is complete.
Pratt, a reality television figure, gained traction during the primary by targeting Mayor Bass’s record, specifically regarding the January 2025 wildfires and the city’s homelessness crisis. Raman, who entered the race later, has positioned herself as a progressive alternative to both the moderate incumbent and Pratt’s right-leaning platform.
The current race for the second runoff spot highlights a dramatic turnaround for Nithya Raman, who was not even in the mayoral race until months ago, while Spencer Pratt’s campaign saw a surge in support after he used memes to criticize Mayor Karen Bass.
Implications for the November Runoff
Should Raman successfully vault into the second spot, the November election would likely shift from a referendum on Pratt’s outsider appeal to a debate over governance philosophies. Voters would be forced to choose between the moderate approach of Mayor Bass and the activist-government platform championed by Raman. A victory for Raman in November would establish a progressive leadership profile in Los Angeles, similar to that of Zohran Mamdani in New York.
The narrowing margin between Raman and Pratt represents a classic case of late-ballot counting shifting the political landscape. By moving from a 10-point deficit to a one-point gap, Raman is demonstrating the potential power of the progressive electorate in Los Angeles. If the trend holds, the runoff will likely pivot toward a policy-heavy confrontation rather than the personality-driven contest seen in the primary.
Updates from the California Governor’s Race
The California governor’s race has also seen a significant shift as the general election field takes shape. The Associated Press has projected that Democrat Xavier Becerra will finish in the top two. With 68 percent of the vote counted, Becerra reached 1.73 million votes, pulling ahead of Republican Steve Hilton, who sits at 1.7 million. Progressive candidate Tom Steyer remains in the mix with 1.34 million votes. If successful, Becerra would become the first Latino governor in the history of California.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is currently leading the race for the second runoff spot?
Spencer Pratt currently holds the second spot with over 27 percent of the vote, though Nithya Raman is trailing closely at 26 percent.
How many votes are still left to be counted in the mayoral primary?
There are nearly 200,000 outstanding votes yet to be tallied.
What is the status of the California governor’s race?
Xavier Becerra has moved into the lead for the second spot with 1.73 million votes, slightly ahead of Steve Hilton’s 1.7 million, with 68 percent of the tally processed.
How will the final distribution of the remaining 200,000 ballots influence the direction of Los Angeles city policy in the coming year?