Raman Surges, Narrowly Leads Pratt in LA Mayoral Race

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How the Vote Count Is Flipping the Script

The race for Los Angeles mayor has defied expectations. Just days ago, reality TV star Spencer Pratt was the clear frontrunner among challengers, riding a wave of anti-establishment anger and viral memes that framed incumbent Karen Bass as out of touch. But as vote counting dragged into the weekend, progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman has quietly surged ahead, now trailing Pratt by less than 1% with nearly a quarter of the vote. The shift reflects a broader tension in L.A. politics: voters hungry for change, but unsure whether they want a populist outsider or a progressive insider to lead it.

According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Raman has gained 22,000 votes since Election Night, narrowing the gap from 10 points to just 7,500 votes as of Saturday. With 78% of ballots counted, the remaining 200,000—mostly mail-in votes—could determine whether Raman overtakes Pratt and forces a progressive showdown with Bass in November. As the Hollywood Reporter noted, later-arriving ballots tend to favor Democrats, giving Raman a realistic shot at second place.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If Raman advances, the runoff would pivot from a clash between Bass and a right-leaning outsider to a battle between two Democrats offering sharply different visions for the city. Pratt’s campaign has thrived on chaos, attacking Bass’s handling of homelessness and the 2025 wildfires with blunt, often inflammatory rhetoric. Raman, by contrast, has framed herself as a pragmatic progressive, emphasizing tenant protections and government accountability. Her rise reflects a growing unease among L.A. voters with Bass’s moderate approach, even as Pratt’s brashness has alienated some moderates.

What the Numbers Really Say

The vote totals tell a story of shifting momentum. Bass remains the frontrunner with 34.98% of the vote, but her support is far from overwhelming. Pratt, who entered the race as a long-shot, now holds 28.24%, while Raman sits at 24.89%—just 0.95 percentage points behind him. The numbers underscore how close this race is, with Raman’s gains coming from a steady stream of new ballots that have eroded Pratt’s early lead.

Here’s how the vote share has shifted since Election Night, according to the latest counts:

• Karen Bass: 34.98% (215,868 votes)
• Spencer Pratt: 28.24% (174,260 votes)
• Nithya Raman: 24.89% (153,588 votes)

The remaining 530,000 ballots—about 22% of the total—could push Raman into second place, but experts like Fernando Guerra, director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University, caution that her path is narrow. “The remaining votes would bump her up from the then-22.81% of the vote she had,” Guerra told USA Today, but the margin is razor-thin.

Why Raman’s Surge Matters More Than the Numbers

Raman’s campaign has been a masterclass in quiet persistence. While Pratt dominated headlines with viral attacks on Bass—including the now-infamous “Karen Basura” meme—Raman built her support through grassroots organizing, particularly among renters and progressive activists. Her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, a writer and producer for *30 Rock*, helped craft a campaign that avoided the spectacle of Pratt’s antics while still appealing to voters frustrated with the status quo.

The contrast between the two challengers couldn’t be starker. Pratt’s campaign has thrived on outrage, framing Bass as part of a corrupt political elite. Raman, meanwhile, has focused on policy—tenant protections, homelessness solutions, and government transparency. As she told supporters in a video shared by Fox 11 Los Angeles, her campaign is about “a city that works for everyone, a city that dreams bigger.” The shift in vote share suggests that L.A. voters are responding to substance over spectacle.

But Raman’s path isn’t guaranteed. The remaining ballots—mostly from progressive-leaning areas—could still push her over the top, but the race is far from over. If she does advance, it would mark a significant victory for the city’s progressive movement, potentially setting the stage for a mayoralty that mirrors New York’s Eric Adams or even a more radical shift toward democratic socialism.

The Fallout: Who Wins and Who Loses

A Raman victory in November would reshape L.A.’s political landscape. Bass, who has been projected as the frontrunner since Election Night, would face a challenger who offers a starkly different vision—one rooted in activist government rather than centrist pragmatism. Pratt, meanwhile, would see his momentum stall, leaving him with a bitter taste of near-miss glory.

For Bass, the runoff would be a fight for the soul of the city. If she loses to Raman, it would signal a rejection of her moderate approach in favor of a more progressive agenda. If she beats Pratt, it would be a repudiation of the populist wave that carried him to second place. Either way, the primary has already changed the conversation in L.A. politics.

The race has also had ripple effects beyond City Hall. Adam Miller, a nonprofit executive who ran on a platform of reducing homelessness and lowering rents, ended his campaign on Friday, citing exhaustion. “The crises we face remain urgent,” he said in a statement, “and I still believe Los Angeles is worth fighting for.” His exit underscores the high stakes of this election—voters are demanding bold solutions, and the candidates who can deliver them are the ones who will win.

What Happens Next

The vote count will continue through June 26, when officials certify the results. But the real drama will play out in the coming weeks as Raman and Pratt campaign aggressively to secure the remaining votes. Pratt’s team is likely to double down on their attacks, while Raman’s campaign will push her policy advantages.

One thing is certain: this race is far from over. Whether Raman overtakes Pratt or not, the primary has already rewritten the rules of L.A. politics. The city’s voters have spoken—change is coming, and the question now is what form it will take.

For now, the focus remains on the numbers. With 200,000 ballots still to count, the race is anyone’s game. But one thing is clear: Los Angeles is watching, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.