Nearly a week after voters cast their ballots in the June 2 primary election, the race to determine who will challenge incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November has become increasingly competitive.
As of June 8, Bass remains the leading vote-getter with approximately 34.6% of the vote and is expected to advance to the November runoff election. The contest for second place, however, has shifted as additional ballots have been counted.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has moved ahead of Spencer Pratt by a narrow margin. According to the latest unofficial results, Raman holds about 27.1% of the vote, compared to Pratt’s 26.7%, a difference of roughly 3,000 votes.
Election officials continue to process ballots received before the state’s deadline, and tens of thousands of votes remain uncounted. Because California’s municipal elections use a top-two primary system, the two candidates receiving the most votes will advance to the Nov. 3 runoff regardless of party affiliation.
On election night, Pratt held a lead over Raman for second place. However, subsequent ballot counts narrowed the gap before Raman overtook him over the weekend. The race remains too close to call, and election officials have not yet certified final results.
Current unofficial results show:
• Karen Bass — 34.6%
• Nithya Raman — 27.1%
• Spencer Pratt — 26.7%
• Remaining candidates — approximately 11.6% combined
The mayoral contest has drawn significant attention due to the close battle among the three leading candidates. Major issues throughout the campaign have included homelessness, housing affordability, public safety, economic recovery, and rebuilding efforts following recent wildfire disasters.
With additional ballot updates expected throughout the week, the final matchup for November’s runoff election has yet to be officially determined. As of Monday, however, Raman holds a slight advantage in the race for second place and a potential spot on the November ballot opposite Bass.
