Nithya Raman Leads Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles Mayoral Race, AP Count Shows

<p>Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has surpassed reality television star Spencer Pratt in the latest Associated Press vote count, although the race remains uncalled. Pratt, a Republican, had been leading earlier in the day, but the updated tally indicates Raman, a Democrat, is ahead by more than 3,000 votes, approximately 0.4 percentage points, in the officially nonpartisan mayoral race.</p><p>Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, also a Democrat, has advanced to a runoff as she seeks a second term. She is currently awaiting to learn which candidate will join her in the runoff, as the AP has not yet identified a second candidate to advance.</p><p>In the nonpartisan mayoral election, if no candidate secures a majority in the primary, the top two vote-getters will proceed to the November runoff.</p><p>Los Angeles County is continuing to count ballots that were postmarked on or before Election Day and received by June 9. The Republican National Committee has expressed interest in the ongoing count. County officials are required to finalize official results by July 2, with the secretary of state certifying results by July 10.</p><p>California's vote counting process often extends beyond Election Day due to mail ballot rules, which allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive up to seven days later. Additionally, election workers must verify signatures and process late-arriving ballots.</p><p>Republicans, including Pratt, have criticized the prolonged ballot counting process. Election officials and voting experts attribute California's extended count to the state's mail ballot regulations, signature verification, and the processing of late-arriving ballots.</p><p>Representative Kevin McCarthy commented on the situation, attributing the delays to changes made by Governor Gavin Newsom regarding election laws.</p>