City Councilmember Nithya Raman has advanced to the Los Angeles mayoral runoff, overtaking Republican candidate Spencer Pratt to join incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
The outcome establishes a final contest between two prominent Democratic figures, shifting the race from a multi-candidate field to a direct challenge of the current administration's record.
CNN's Decision Desk projected Raman into the second-place spot after additional votes were counted in the days following the primary election [1]. The primary took place on June 2, 2026 [2]. Raman's climb into the top two ensures she will face Bass in the general election runoff scheduled for November 2026 [3].
Pratt, a reality-TV star and Republican, had been competing for the second spot but ultimately fell behind Raman as the final ballots were tallied [1]. The shift reflects the evolving dynamics of the Los Angeles electorate as the city prepares for the final stage of the mayoral selection process.
Bass remains the frontrunner as the incumbent, while Raman brings her experience from the City Council to the runoff. The campaign will now focus on the specific policy differences between the two candidates leading up to the November vote [3].
“Nithya Raman has advanced to the Los Angeles mayoral runoff”
The transition from a primary with a Republican challenger to an all-Democratic runoff narrows the ideological spectrum of the final contest. This suggests that the November election will be decided on specific administrative performance and internal party priorities rather than a partisan divide.
