Indian-American Progressive Nithya Raman Advances to LA Mayoral Runoff as MAGA Alleges Election Irregularities
Nithya Raman, an Indian-American progressive City Council member, surged past Republican Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles's mayoral primary after mail-in ballots were counted, advancing to a November runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. MAGA figures including Trump and VP Vance claimed the late-counted ballots favoring Democrats suggested fraud, though election experts attribute the shift to California's standard mail-ballot counting procedures. Raman's potential victory would make her the second Indian-American mayor of a major U.S. city, though she faces skepticism from Democratic establishment figures.
Nithya Raman, an Indian-American progressive City Council member and housing activist, advanced to Los Angeles's November mayoral runoff after mail-in ballots were counted over several days following the primary election. Spencer Pratt, a former MTV reality TV star and the only Republican in the race, initially led by nearly 40,000 votes on election night, but Raman surged past him as California's standard mail-ballot counting process continued. MAGA figures, including former President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, characterized the result as suspicious or "impossible," with online claims circulating about vote-buying schemes involving homeless residents, though no law enforcement investigations or charges have been announced. Election experts explain that California's mail-ballot system—where all registered voters receive ballots and ballots postmarked by Election Day can arrive days later—is standard procedure, not evidence of fraud. Raman, born in India and educated at Harvard and MIT, worked on urban policy before entering LA politics; if elected, she would lead America's second-largest city at a time of rising xenophobia, though she faces resistance from Democratic moderates due to her democratic socialist positions.
What different sources said
- Times of IndiaCenter
California dreamin', MAGA screamin'- Trump and co see red in PIO Nithya Raman's surge in LA
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