Los Angeles Mayoral Race Heats Up as Nithya Raman Advances to Runoff Against Karen Bass

3 weeks ago 0

Councilmember Nithya Raman will challenge incumbent Karen Bass in the upcoming November election for the position of Los Angeles Mayor. This development occurred after Raman moved ahead in election results over the weekend, surpassing newcomer Spencer Pratt. Under California’s primary rules, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of political party.

With 93% of votes counted, Bass had secured 34.3% and Raman 28.5%. Initially, CBS News projected Bass would advance on election night. Raman managed to overcome her initial deficit, positioning herself in the runoff with Bass.

Raman Overtakes Pratt

Initially, Pratt led Raman by six percentage points for the second spot. However, his lead diminished with updates from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office. On Sunday, Raman overtook Pratt by less than a percentage point and further widened her lead by amassing over 33,000 votes, surpassing Pratt’s 25.8%.

All three candidates spoke about the race results over the weekend. Pratt encouraged his followers to stay hopeful as more votes remained uncounted. In contrast, Bass’ campaign issued a statement challenging Raman after she surpassed Pratt.

“We anticipate a contest with an opponent who supports encampments near schools and opposes increasing law enforcement, yet does little to protect Hollywood jobs or act against ICE raids in LA,” read the statement.

Raman’s campaign also issued a statement on Monday, expressing gratitude to supporters and optimism about the vote count.

Pre-Election Landscape

In May, a UC Berkeley-LA Times poll indicated a close race with Bass at 26%, Raman at 25%, and Pratt at 22%, within a 3% margin of error. A significant amount of voters were undecided, as shown in a UCLA Luskin School poll where 40% of likely voters had not yet chosen their candidate. However, the number of undecided voters sharply decreased closer to the primary.

The Los Angeles mayoral race has garnered national attention, intensified by local events such as the Palisades and Eaton Fires in 2025, followed by subsequent protests and immigration enforcement activities.

Candidate Reactions

After projections showed her advancing, Raman released a statement Monday, thanking her supporters.

“I am deeply honored that voters have granted us the chance to move forward to the general election as we strive for a healthier, safer, and more accessible Los Angeles,” Raman stated.

Raman criticized City Hall for serving special interests over the needs of working citizens.

“If you are frustrated with the current state of affairs as I am, join us in building a city that serves all,” she urged.

Bass also commented on her upcoming race against Raman, emphasizing her intention to address key city issues. Pratt, meanwhile, had not made recent comments by Monday evening.

Background on the Candidates

Nithya Raman, elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2020 and reelected in 2024, has been outspoken on issues like homelessness. Raman’s approach has been criticized and debated, particularly her stance against encampment ordinances.

Raman expressed that current mayor Bass fell short in addressing homelessness.

“I’ve tried partnering with the mayor’s office, facing a lack of responsiveness on urgent city issues,” Raman shared with CBS LA.

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, a former congresswoman and state assembly leader, sees this race as her final campaign. Despite facing diverse challenges, including a $1 billion budget shortfall, she remains confident in her leadership and accomplishments, such as preventing layoffs and reducing homelessness.

Reality TV personality Spencer Pratt, who emerged as a political figure after the Palisades Fire, has positioned himself directly against Bass. While a novice in politics, Pratt attracted attention by leveraging his social media presence and was even acknowledged by former President Trump.