Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has climbed ahead of Spencer Pratt in the battle for second place in the mayoral race, a dramatic shift that could reshape the fall runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
Raman, a Democrat and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, trailed Pratt, a registered Republican and former reality television personality, on election night. But as Los Angeles continues tabulating ballots, she has steadily closed the gap. By Sunday night's update, Raman had overtaken Pratt by a few thousand votes. She had cut his previous advantage nearly in half just two days earlier, when their margin stood at roughly 20,000 votes.
The race remains fluid with more than 100,000 ballots still pending in Los Angeles. NBC News has already projected Bass will advance to the general election, but the identity of her opponent remains uncertain.
Raman's momentum reflects a statewide pattern. Across California, Democratic candidates have gained ground as mail-in ballots continue flowing in through the counting process. The same dynamic has played out in the open gubernatorial race and several competitive congressional contests, including a Sacramento-area seat that Democrats had targeted for November.
The two potential runoff scenarios paint starkly different political pictures. If Pratt advances, Bass would face a challenge framed as establishment versus outsider, with Pratt attacking from the right. If Raman takes the second slot, Los Angeles would see a Democratic-on-Democrat matchup, with Raman, a former Bass ally, moving to her left for the general election campaign.
A preprimary Los Angeles Times poll offered mixed signals about either scenario. The survey showed both Bass and Raman leading Pratt in separate one-on-one matchups. In a direct Bass-Raman contest, Raman held a small edge that fell within the margin of error. Notably, 40 percent of respondents said they were undecided or would not vote in such a matchup, suggesting considerable persuadable ground remains.
Pratt has positioned himself as the conservative choice in the officially nonpartisan race, attempting to capitalize on public concerns over crime, homelessness, and city services. His early strength through election night reflected a common pattern where Republican-registered candidates and conservative messaging can compete in nonpartisan municipal contests, particularly when voters express frustration with incumbents.
Raman's resurgence defies that arc. In an election night address to supporters, she acknowledged uncertainty about the outcome as ballots continued to arrive. "We may not get an answer we like," she told the crowd. "But regardless of what happens next, nobody, nobody can take away what all of us have built together." Her words proved prescient, as the answer shifted in her favor within days.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Raman's late surge shows how mail-in voting can scramble conventional election night narratives, and this Los Angeles race will likely hinge on whether Democrats can unite or whether Pratt can turn a Bass-versus-Raman contest into a referendum on the incumbent."
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