Raman Takes Narrow Lead as Los Angeles Count Continues

Los Angeles’ mayoral race remained unresolved after preliminary ballot counts shifted from an election-night lead for incumbent Karen Bass to a narrow advantage for challenger Nithya Raman. The reported results were snapshots taken at different stages of counting, not a final outcome. At 10:48 p.m. on November 3, with nearly 500,000 votes counted, Bass had 50.7% and Raman 49.3%, according to the county tally reported that night. The early count consisted of mail ballots, and the election-night account said the final count would take at least several days. A later report, with about 730,000 ballots counted, put Raman ahead by just over 16,000 votes, or roughly two percentage points. The county’s completed tally was not included in the reporting, so the late preliminary lead did not establish who won. The two candidates addressed supporters as counting continued. Bass said she was confident of victory and asked voters for four more years. Raman said she was hopeful but urged supporters to let the count finish before drawing conclusions. An election expert cited in the later report said ballots arriving later could favor Raman, pointing to voting patterns in which younger voters,...