Nithya Raman Advances to LA Mayoral Runoff Against Incumbent Karen Bass
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman secured second place in the city's June 2 primary, overtaking Republican Spencer Pratt to advance to a November runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Pratt had led by nearly 40,000 votes on election night, but Raman steadily gained ground as mail-in ballots were counted over the following week, ultimately holding a roughly 30,000-vote margin with about 99% of ballots tallied. The result sets up an all-Democrat general election in the nation's second-largest city and has drawn unsubstantiated fraud claims from President Trump and his allies, while alarming the Democratic establishment, which had preferred to face the less competitive Pratt.
Nithya Raman, a Democratic Socialist and four-term Los Angeles City Council member, was projected by multiple major outlets including the Associated Press, NBC News, and CNN to advance to the November mayoral runoff after overtaking Republican Spencer Pratt in the ongoing ballot count. With approximately 93% of votes counted, Bass led with 34.3%, Raman held 28.5%, and Pratt stood at 25.8%. Pratt, a former MTV reality star whose home was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades Fire, had campaigned on homelessness, crime, and Bass's handling of the wildfires, and initially held a commanding election-night lead that evaporated as mail-in ballots — which skewed heavily Democratic — were tallied in the days that followed. President Trump, who had expressed support for Pratt, and allies including Elon Musk amplified baseless claims of election fraud, which election experts and CNN data analyst Harry Enten dismissed, noting that Bass's own campaign had preferred to face Pratt rather than the more competitive Raman. Raman's rise has drawn comparisons to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's DSA-backed victory, unsettling the Democratic establishment; a UC Berkeley poll taken before the primary showed Raman leading Bass by 4 points in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, while Bass's net favorability stood at -22 compared to Raman's +5. Pratt formally conceded on June 13 in a combative video in which he called his opponents 'commie animals,' claimed to possess a damaging recording of one of the candidates, and vowed to continue targeting City Hall outside the constraints of campaign law.
Data: NBC News
How coverage differed
Left-leaning and center outlets framed Pratt's loss primarily as a defeat for Trump and MAGA politics in a deep-blue city, emphasizing the baselessness of fraud claims and Raman's progressive credentials. Right-leaning outlets such as the Washington Examiner, Daily Wire, and The Federalist focused on the slow vote-counting process as eroding public confidence, framed Raman's mail-in surge as suspicious or at least politically convenient, and cast the result as evidence that large Democratic cities are unwilling to change course despite voter frustration.
What different sources said
- NBC NewsLeft
Nithya Raman advances over Spencer Pratt to face L.A. Mayor Karen Bass in a runoff
- The Guardian USLeft
Nithya Raman edges out Spencer Pratt to face Karen Bass in LA mayoral runoff
- CBS NewsCenter
Raman defeats Pratt to face Bass in LA mayoral election, CBS News projects
Nithya Raman Secures Second LA Mayor Spot, Ending Spencer Pratt’s Run
- New York PostRight
Spencer Pratt responds to questions as LA mayoral vote count drags on at snail’s pace
- France 24Center
Left-winger beats Trump-backed Republican to advance to LA mayor runoff
- The InterceptLeft
Democratic Socialist Overcomes GOP-Funded Opponent to Advance in Los Angeles Mayor Race
- PBS NewsHourLeft
Progressive Nithya Raman advances to November runoff against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
- ABC NewsCenter
Nithya Raman advances over Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles mayoral race
- BreitbartFar Right
Reports: Karen Bass, Nithya Raman Ready for L.A. Mayoral Race Primary as Spencer Pratt Pushed Aside
- The New YorkerLeft
California Primary-Election Results: Nithya Raman Advances to Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff
- NewsweekCenter
Mamdani of LA? Nithya Raman's Rise Could Be a Nightmare for Democrats
- The IndependentLeft
How ‘The Hills’ reality TV star Spencer Pratt failed in his bid to become LA mayor
- Washington ExaminerRight
Pratt ran a great campaign, but you can’t save voters who don’t want to be saved
- SalonLeft
Right-wing media melts down as Spencer Pratt sinks in vote count
- The HillCenter
The Memo: Spencer Pratt comes up short in Los Angeles, drawing hollow claims of fraud
- ForbesCenter
Spencer Pratt Fails To Advance In Los Angeles Mayor’s Race
- Daily WireRight
Spencer Pratt’s Race Has Been Called. See The Results.
- DeadlineCenter
Spencer Pratt Breaks Silence On L.A. Mayor’s Race Loss
- The Hollywood ReporterCenter
Spencer Pratt Breaks Silence After Losing Bid to Advance in L.A. Mayoral Race
- Times of IndiaCenter
California dreamin', MAGA screamin'- Trump and co see red in PIO Nithya Raman's surge in LA
- The FederalistRight
Lockstep Media Proudly Declare Ludicrous California Elections So Pure They Float
- Fox NewsRight
Pratt concedes LA mayor race with scathing video teasing next move, bombshell info he holds: 'Commie animals'
- VarietyCenter
Spencer Pratt Concedes in L.A. Mayor Race: ‘You Have No Idea How Bad Things Are About to Get’
Spencer Pratt appears to concede election in aggressive video threatening Bass and Raman
- ABC7 Los AngelesCenter
Spencer Pratt responds to L.A. mayoral race loss in new video, says 'it's war'
- The Daily BeastCenter
MAGA Reality Candidate Speaks Out After Shocker Loss
- PoliticoLeft
LA Dems are nursing a post-Spencer Pratt hangover
- Washington TimesRight
Spencer Pratt concedes LA mayor race, claims he has damaging video of a candidate
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