Pratt Leads Raman For Final Run-Off Spot As Ballots Still Being Counted
California’s election results are still being finalized following the June 2 primary, and concerns continue to grow as state officials acknowledge that counting all ballots could take several more weeks.
In the Los Angeles mayoral race, incumbent Democrat Karen Bass failed to secure the 51% threshold required for an outright victory, setting the stage for a November runoff election.
One of the most closely watched contests is the battle between Republican candidate Spencer Pratt, a former reality television personality, and Democratic City Council member Nithya Raman. As of Thursday morning, Pratt held a significant lead over Raman, who would need a substantial surge in remaining votes to overtake him.
With approximately 62% of ballots counted as of Wednesday night, the vote totals stood at:
• Karen Bass — 183,701 votes (35%)
• Spencer Pratt — 157,116 votes (29.9%)
• Nithya Raman — 119,809 votes (22.8%)
Based on current results, Pratt appears positioned to advance to the November runoff against Bass.
A Republican has not won a Los Angeles mayoral election in more than 30 years, making Pratt’s strong performance noteworthy. His growing support reflects frustration among many residents who believe the city has struggled under decades of Democratic leadership.
Business executive and former city council candidate John Putnam argues that Pratt’s rise is fueled by public concerns over crime, homelessness, addiction, wildfire preparedness, and the city’s business climate.
“I think a lot of people are concerned about what’s happening and don’t know how to fix it,” Putnam said. “The crime, the homelessness, the addiction—people see these issues every day.”
Putnam also suggested that voters are increasingly holding elected officials accountable for the city’s challenges.
“I think many people recognize who has been responsible for these policies,” he said. “Spencer is bringing attention to these problems in a direct and understandable way.”
According to Putnam, Pratt’s straightforward messaging is resonating with voters, even among those who may not ultimately support him at the ballot box.
“Even if people don’t plan to vote for him, they’re listening,” Putnam said. “His message is connecting with a lot of residents.”
Putnam added that challenges facing communities such as Santa Monica reflect broader issues affecting Los Angeles and California as a whole.
The race has also been marked by controversy. Pratt recently alleged that election law violations may have occurred prior to the June 2 primary and announced that his campaign had filed a formal complaint against Mayor Bass.
In a post on X, Pratt accused Bass of violating electioneering laws by appearing in a campaign video near a ballot drop box while encouraging supporters to vote.
“Electioneering within 100 feet of a ballot box is against the law,” Pratt wrote. “Soliciting votes at a ballot box is against the law. These actions demonstrate a disregard for the democratic process.”
Pratt further argued that elected officials should be held to the highest standards of compliance with election laws and claimed the incident reflected a broader pattern of unequal accountability.
California law prohibits candidates and campaign workers from electioneering within 100 feet of a ballot drop box. Pratt’s complaint centers on a campaign video that allegedly showed Bass promoting voter participation while standing near a ballot collection site.
A spokesperson for Bass dismissed the complaint and questioned the credibility of Pratt’s allegations.
As vote counting continues, attention remains focused on whether the current standings will hold and how the emerging November contest could reshape the political landscape of Los Angeles.