Los Angeles Mayor Race: Trump-Backed Candidate Out, Raman to Face Incumbent Bass in Runoff

Nithya Raman, a progressive council member, will face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the November 3 runoff election for Los Angeles mayor. This outcome follows the latest vote count, which is still ongoing in the county.

The result marks a significant defeat for Republican Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star backed by Donald Trump. Preliminary results showed Raman with 28.5% of the vote, ahead of Pratt's 25.8%, leading major US networks like CNN and NBC News to project her advance, despite the count not being finalized.

Pratt's campaign focused on public frustration over the slow pace of rebuilding after the 2025 wildfires, the homelessness crisis, and what he characterized as an ineffective city government. He had aimed to capitalize on voter discontent.

California's vote-by-mail system, where ballots are sent to all registered voters and must be postmarked by election day, often delays final results. Ballots can arrive days later, and with California's large population, this process can take time.

Donald Trump had previously accused Democrats of attempting to "steal" the primary and announced investigations into alleged election fraud. However, in California, widespread fraud that could alter election outcomes has not been recorded. Trump has continued to make unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election and illegal immigration influencing votes in California.

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The 2020 election was rigged… We are worse than some third-world countries when it comes to elections.