Raman overtakes Pratt for second place in LA primary

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman has overtaken independent candidate Spencer Pratt for second place in the city's mayoral primary, positioning her for a likely November runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Updated tallies released over the weekend showed Raman leading Pratt by approximately 3,100 votes, a reversal of Pratt's substantial election-night lead, with an estimated 463,000 ballots still to be counted across Los Angeles County.

The dramatic shift resulted from late-arriving mail-in ballots, a common feature of California elections, which in this race have strongly favored the progressive Democrat. As of the latest count, with roughly 83% of expected votes tallied, Bass leads with 34.7%. Raman holds 27.1%, while Pratt follows with 26.7%. The extended count is mandated by state law, which allows ballots postmarked by Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, to be received and verified for up to seven days afterward. Officials have emphasized that the meticulous signature verification and processing of these ballots prioritize accuracy and voter access over speed.

The prolonged count and reversal have drawn national attention and criticism. Former President Donald...