Los Angeles mayoral race delayed by mail‑in ballot count

In the June 2026 Los Angeles primary, vote counting continues for days because California processes roughly 80% of votes by mail. Results in the city have been slow, with the county still counting tens of thousands of ballots; the final certification is due weeks after the election.

The late‑mail ballot tally shows a shift: incumbent mayor Karen Bass leads, while challenger Spencer Pratt’s lead over Nithya Raman has narrowed as Raman gained about 3,000 votes in a recent batch. Conservatives have accused the pattern of a “rigged” steal, citing social‑media posts, but officials note the high share of mail ballots (71.86% of counted votes) explains volatility. Similar mail‑in dynamics are affecting other California races, with early leads for Republican Steve Hilton also subject to change as more ballots are counted.