Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has moved into second place in the mayoral primary, overtaking former reality-TV star Spencer Pratt.
The shift in standings changes the trajectory of the race by positioning Raman to challenge incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a general election. This development signals a potential shift in the city's political landscape as a sitting councilmember gains momentum over a celebrity challenger.
Recent updates following five days of ballot counting show Raman holding 27.1% [1] of the counted votes. Spencer Pratt currently follows closely behind with 26.7% [1] of the vote. The narrow margin keeps the race competitive, though analysts said the continuing trend in counted ballots favors Raman [1].
Mayor Karen Bass has already secured a place in the runoff election. Raman is now closing in on that second spot, which would lead to a final contest on Nov. 3, 2026 [2].
Election officials continue to process ballots in Los Angeles. Mail-in ballots are still being accepted through Tuesday following the primary [1]. Because these ballots remain to be tallied, the final standings for the second-place position could fluctuate before the official certification.
Pratt's decline in the standings follows a period of intense competition for the second spot. Raman's surge suggests a consolidation of support among voters who prefer her legislative experience over Pratt's public profile, a trend that may solidify as the final mail-in votes are processed [1].
“Nithya Raman has moved into second place in the mayoral primary, overtaking former reality-TV star Spencer Pratt.”
The movement of Nithya Raman into second place suggests that Los Angeles voters are prioritizing established municipal governance experience over celebrity candidacy. If Raman secures the runoff spot, the final election on Nov. 3 will likely center on a debate between two different visions of Democratic leadership: the incumbent mayor's current administration versus a councilmember's legislative record.
