LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman advanced to the November mayoral runoff after overtaking former reality television personality Spencer Pratt in the city’s primary election, according to updated vote counts released this week by election officials and projections reported by major U.S. media organizations. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who led the primary field, will face Raman in the general election after no candidate secured a majority of the vote.
Raman, a progressive Democrat representing parts of central Los Angeles on the City Council, moved into second place as additional mail ballots were counted following the June 2 primary. Election results released over several days showed Raman gradually erasing Pratt’s early lead before establishing a narrow advantage that was later projected to be sufficient to secure a runoff berth.
Under Los Angeles’ nonpartisan election system, the top two candidates advance to a runoff if no contender receives more than 50% of the vote. Bass finished first in the primary, while Raman secured second place ahead of Pratt, according to reported vote totals.
Speaking to supporters after the results shifted in her favor, Raman said she was “incredibly honored” to advance to the next stage of the election, according to the Los Angeles Times. Earlier in the vote-counting process, she told supporters, “We will not be bought. We will not be bullied. And we are never backing down. November, here we come.”
The race has drawn national attention amid debate over homelessness, housing affordability, public safety and the city’s response to the devastating wildfires that struck the Los Angeles region in 2025. Bass, seeking a second term, has defended her administration’s record on homelessness and housing, while Raman has campaigned on expanding housing access and pursuing policy reforms aimed at addressing long-standing urban challenges.
Pratt, who entered the race after losing his home in the 2025 wildfires, briefly held second place on election night before falling behind as additional ballots were processed. Some public figures and supporters raised concerns about the pace of vote counting, though election officials continued to report results under California’s established ballot-counting procedures. No evidence of election fraud has been presented, and independent fact-checking organizations reported that claims Raman had conceded the race were false.
As of Tuesday, Bass and Raman were preparing for the November runoff campaign. Election officials continued counting remaining ballots, but media projections and updated tallies indicated that Pratt would not advance to the general election.
