Nithya Raman is currently in second place in the Los Angeles mayoral race, having received 27.1% of the votes counted so far, compared to 26.7% for Spencer Pratt. Mail-in ballots will continue to be accepted through Tuesday, and analysts suggest that the trend favors Raman as she moves toward a potential runoff with incumbent Karen Bass on November 3.
Raman's position improved following a five-day count after she initially fell behind Pratt on election night. As of the latest count, Raman leads Pratt by 3,113 votes, with 19,096 votes for Raman, 15,691 for Bass, and 8,489 for Pratt.
Zev Yaroslavsky, a former council member, stated that the odds have shifted in Raman's favor, noting her consistent gains over the past few days. Raman expressed gratitude to her supporters in a statement.
Bass's campaign spokesman, Alex Stack, indicated that if Raman maintains her position, Bass would look forward to the runoff against an opponent with differing views on issues such as homelessness and law enforcement.
Election officials estimate that approximately 368,000 ballots remain to be processed in Los Angeles County, which comprises about 40% of the county's population. Political observers have noted that Raman's numbers have improved as mail-in ballots were counted, drawing comparisons to the 2022 mayoral election where Bass similarly overtook her opponent.
Political strategist Michael Trujillo expressed skepticism about Pratt's ability to regain second place, suggesting he may be stagnating in his vote count. Analysts believe that Pratt, a registered Republican, appealed to conservative voters who likely voted early, while Raman, a progressive democratic socialist, may attract younger voters who tend to hold onto their ballots longer.
Pratt, known for his role on the reality show "The Hills," has garnered attention from conservative media and received indirect support from former President Trump. He reminded his supporters that ballot counting will continue in the coming weeks.
Should Raman advance to the runoff, she may pose a significant challenge to Bass, as a recent poll indicated that Raman could lead Bass in a head-to-head matchup. Throughout her campaign, Raman has criticized Bass's handling of various issues, including homelessness and city spending. Bass has countered these claims, citing her administration's achievements in reducing homelessness and expediting housing approvals.
