Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman advanced to the November runoff election for mayor after the June 8, 2026, primary [1, 2].
The result sets up a high-stakes contest between a progressive challenger and the incumbent, potentially shifting the policy direction of the second-largest city in the U.S.
According to projections from the Associated Press, Raman secured enough total votes to claim the second spot behind Mayor Karen Bass [2]. The race for that second position was closely contested with candidate Spencer Pratt, who finished third [1, 3].
Data from the Saturday tally showed Raman won approximately 40% of the votes counted that day [4]. This surge put her within 1% of Spencer Pratt during the counting process [4], eventually allowing her to secure the spot in the general election runoff [1, 2].
Bass, the incumbent mayor, maintains the lead as the top candidate heading into the final stage of the election. The runoff is scheduled for November 2026 [1].
Raman, a member of the City Council, now prepares for a citywide campaign to challenge Bass's administration. The primary results indicate a significant level of support for Raman's platform among the voters who participated in the June 8 election [1, 2].
“Nithya Raman advanced to the November runoff election for mayor.”
The advancement of Nithya Raman to the runoff indicates a consolidation of the progressive vote in Los Angeles. By defeating Spencer Pratt for the second spot, Raman establishes a direct ideological clash with Mayor Karen Bass, moving the final election away from a multi-candidate field and into a binary choice regarding the city's governance and priorities.
