Vote Count Tightens in Mayoral Contest
Excitement is building in the Los Angeles mayoral race as City Councilmember Nithya Raman continues to close the gap on reality star Spencer Pratt. Recent tallies reveal Pratt’s lead has dwindled to just one percentage point, with Raman’s support climbing to slightly over 26%, compared to Pratt’s 27%. Currently, the difference between them stands at around 7,494 votes, making this race more competitive than ever.
Electoral Dynamics Favor Raman
Political experts are closely monitoring the situation, with many suggesting that Raman is gaining momentum. Paul Mitchell, a vice president at the voter data firm Political Data Inc., commented that Raman’s steady increase in support indicates she’s on a trajectory to overtake Pratt, particularly as ballots continue to be counted. “Nithya Raman is on an acceleration path, and unless Pratt receives a favorable influx of votes, her chances look promising,” Mitchell noted.
Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo, who is not affiliated with either campaign, expressed similar sentiments, stating, “The numbers imply that Nithya will likely surpass Spencer as more results come in. It seems that her entry into the runoff is almost certain, while Pratt’s progress appears limited.” The runner-up in this primary will set up a showdown against current Mayor Karen Bass in a runoff scheduled for November 3.
Since the election night when Bass qualified for the runoff, Pratt has held onto his second-place position. However, Raman’s rise gained traction as mail-in ballots were processed, reflecting a shift in voter preferences over the past few days. Initial results on election night placed Pratt at 29% and Raman at 23%, but the latest counts hint at a narrowing race, with Pratt holding 28% and Raman up to 25%.
In the recent wave of counted mail-in ballots, Raman attracted 23,514 votes, significantly outpacing Pratt, who gained 10,336 votes. Analysts had anticipated this trend, asserting that many of Raman’s potential supporters, particularly younger and more progressive voters, kept their ballots until the last minute as they awaited a final decision on their gubernatorial candidates.
While the mayor’s race is officially nonpartisan, Pratt’s Republican affiliation stands out in a city predominantly represented by Democrats. Polling data from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies earlier this month, conducted with The Times, had Pratt in third place behind Bass and Raman, showing just 22% support for him in a survey of 1,351 likely voters.
Los Angeles is accustomed to seeing vote tallies shift even after Election Day, as evidenced by last year’s mayoral primary. Rick Caruso held the lead initially before Mayor Bass surged ahead as late ballots were counted. According to precinct-level analysis, Pratt has gained favor in similar neighborhoods that previously supported Caruso, while Raman has made significant inroads in progressive areas that backed Bass four years ago.
As the race continues to evolve, time will tell whether Raman can maintain her momentum and ultimately secure a chance against Bass in November. For now, the excitement of a tightening race offers a glimpse of what’s to come as more counts are added, with mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day being accepted through Tuesday.
