LA Mayoral Runoff Set
Progressive Nithya Raman to face Mayor Karen Bass in Los Angeles runoff election
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City Councilmember Nithya Raman has advanced to a November runoff against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, knocking out Republican reality TV personality Spencer Pratt in a nail-biter finish. AP called the race on Sunday, June 8, after Raman overtook Pratt by roughly 3,113 votes — just 27.1% to his 26.7% — with 83% of ballots counted. KTNV and other outlets confirmed the November 3 general election will feature two Democrats and former political allies now turned rivals.
Bass leads the primary with 34.7% of the vote — a weaker-than-expected showing for a sitting mayor. Bangor Daily News noted that incumbents polling under 35% are in a "vulnerable position," signaling deep voter frustration with the city's direction on homelessness and the aftermath of the 2025 Palisades Fire.
A Slow Vote Count Flipped the Race Upside Down
On election night, June 2, Pratt held a significant lead over Raman for the second runoff spot. Then days of "glacial" vote counting began. As mail-in ballots from younger, urban Democratic voters were processed, Raman's numbers climbed steadily. The Hill reported that Pratt's lead shrank vote by vote over nearly a week before Raman finally passed him Sunday afternoon.
The slow count drew national attention — and misinformation. Former President Trump posted that the state is "crooked" after four days without a final result, according to The Hill. Local GOP leaders echoed the claim, arguing the delay favored Democratic candidates. California election officials pushed back, saying mail-in ballot processing simply takes time.
How Pratt's 2025 Fire Loss Launched a Mayoral Bid
Spencer Pratt was not a typical candidate. The reality TV star — known for *The Hills* — lost his $2.5 million home in the January 2025 Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes, according to CBS News. Within weeks, Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag joined a class-action lawsuit against the city, alleging the DWP let water pressure fail during the blaze.
Exactly one year after the fire, Pratt entered the race. He ran on mandatory drug treatment, tougher policing, and "disinfecting" city hall, per KGUN9. His 26.7% share of the primary vote shows his message resonated — especially in the San Fernando Valley. Both Bass and Raman will now compete to win over that bloc of voters ahead of November.
Bass vs. Raman: Former Allies Now Fighting for City Hall
Raman entered the race on February 7, withdrawing her endorsement of Bass in what FOX 11 called a "political earthquake." A former urban planner, Raman is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. She wants to build "social housing" and expand renter protections — a sharper left turn from Bass's approach. Her campaign slogan: "This just isn't a campaign — this is a mission."
Bass's campaign wasted no time drawing contrasts. Strategist Douglas Herman said the mayor "looks forward to winning" a race against Raman, whom he accused of "allowing encampments near schools" and cutting police funding, according to Bangor Daily News. Bass has the backing of Gov. Gavin Newsom and VP Kamala Harris. The stakes are historic: Bass would secure her legacy as LA's first Black female mayor; Raman would become the city's first South Asian woman to hold the office.
What Each Candidate Would Actually Do Differently
Bass built her tenure around "Inside Safe," a program that moves unhoused people into hotels and motels as temporary shelter. She says arresting people "is not the way to solve this problem" and points to shelter acceptance rates as proof the approach works, per KGET. A second Bass term would likely mean more of the same — and an expansion of the LAPD.
Raman wants to scrap the hotel-based model and replace it with permanent social housing, according to LAist. She also opposes LAPD expansion. The November runoff gives Los Angeles voters a clear choice: Bass's "pragmatic" establishment approach versus Raman's left-wing restructuring of how the city handles its most visible crisis.
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