Nithya Raman overtakes Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles mayoral primary

In the June 2, 2026 Los Angeles mayoral primary, incumbent Democrat Karen Bass leads with roughly 34.6% of the vote. Progressive city councilmember Nithya Raman has surged ahead of Republican reality‑TV star Spencer Pratt for the second runoff spot, now holding about 27.1% versus Pratt’s 26.7% after the latest count, which covered roughly 83% of ballots. The shift reflects the state's mail‑in voting system, where later‑counted ballots tend to favor younger, more progressive voters. Federal officials, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, have opened investigations into California’s election processes and alleged irregularities, though no specific fraud has been proven. With about 150,000 ballots still to be counted, the final runoff lineup between Bass and either Raman or Pratt remains pending.