The race for Los Angeles mayor has taken a new turn as Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV personality, has fallen to third place behind Nithya Raman, a progressive city council member. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass continues to lead the race as vote counting progresses.

Vote Counting and Candidate Positions

California’s voting process, which allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within seven days, has resulted in a slow tally. This has led to shifts in candidate standings. Initially, Pratt held a lead over Raman, but as more mail ballots are counted, Raman has overtaken him by approximately 0.4 points, or 3,100 votes. Bass’s lead over Pratt has also increased to nearly 8 points.

The mayoral race is nonpartisan, with no party affiliations listed on the ballot. However, both Bass and Raman are Democrats, while Pratt is a Republican. The slow counting process has sparked unsubstantiated claims of fraud from some Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who suggested an investigation by the Department of Justice.

Implications for the General Election

The general election in Los Angeles is anticipated to be a referendum on Bass’s leadership. Should Pratt advance, he would challenge the city’s liberal governance, focusing on issues such as homelessness and criticizing Bass’s handling of the January 2025 wildfires. Raman, on the other hand, would approach from a progressive standpoint, advocating for increased housing construction and improved city services.

As the vote count continues, the political landscape in Los Angeles remains dynamic, with the potential for significant shifts before the November runoff.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.