Nithya Raman, a Los Angeles city councilmember, has pulled ahead of former reality TV star Spencer Pratt in the closely contested race for the second spot in the upcoming November mayoral election. As of the latest vote update on Sunday evening, Raman secured about 40% of the nearly 48,000 votes reported by Los Angeles County, placing her approximately 3,000 votes ahead of Pratt.

Despite the current standings, the race remains too close to call, with more votes yet to be counted. CNN has not projected which candidate will advance to face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the November election. Raman’s recent surge in votes has been notable, as she has consistently outperformed both Bass and Pratt since the primary election on June 2, gaining 43,000 votes over Pratt and increasing her overall vote share by approximately 5 percentage points.

California’s election process, largely conducted via mail-in ballots, often results in extended counting periods. Properly postmarked ballots received up to seven days after Election Day are eligible to be counted, which can lead to shifts in vote totals. Historically, votes reported after election night in California have tended to favor Democratic candidates, as they often include mail-in ballots cast closer to Election Day.

While the Los Angeles mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, Spencer Pratt is a registered Republican, whereas Nithya Raman has campaigned as a progressive. Mayor Karen Bass has already indicated her potential campaign strategy against Raman, should Raman secure the second spot. Bass criticized Raman for allegedly being absent in efforts to protect Hollywood jobs and in opposing ICE operations in Los Angeles.

Implications for Los Angeles

The outcome of this election could have significant implications for the city of Los Angeles, particularly in areas such as immigration policy and economic development. The city’s leadership will play a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced by its diverse population and in shaping policies that reflect the values and priorities of its residents.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.