Raman Overtakes Pratt in LA Mayoral Primary as Late Mail Ballots Flip the Race, Sparking Fresh Election Integrity Questions

Los Angeles, CA – Progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman has overtaken independent candidate Spencer Pratt for second place in the June 2 Los Angeles mayoral primary, narrowing the contest for advancement to the November runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass as late mail ballots continue to be tallied.

With approximately 83.2% of expected ballots counted as of June 7, Bass maintains a comfortable lead with around 34.7% (250,871 votes). Raman now holds a slim advantage over Pratt, 27.1% (196,198 votes) to 26.7% (193,085 votes), a margin of roughly 3,113 votes. An estimated 146,000 ballots remain uncounted, keeping the outcome uncertain.

Raman trailed Pratt by tens of thousands of votes on election night and in early counts, where Pratt performed strongly among mail-in ballots received by Election Day. However, subsequent drops of later mail ballots have consistently favored Raman and Bass, with one recent batch showing Democrats receiving about 80% of the votes added. In that update, Raman gained more than 19,000 votes compared to Pratt’s roughly 8,500, enabling her to flip the position.

The pattern of late-count shifts has drawn scrutiny in a state known for universal mail-in voting, extended acceptance deadlines, and a prolonged tabulation process. Pratt, who positioned himself as an outsider focused on public safety, homelessness, and post-fire recovery, dominated earlier returns but has seen his lead evaporate as ballots postmarked closer to or after Election Day were processed. Questions have arisen about the sources of these additional votes and the reliability of results in a system where mail ballots can be accepted up to a week after Election Day.

Los Angeles County election officials have described the updates as routine, attributing changes to the normal processing of mail ballots that tend to lean toward urban and progressive voters. Raman’s campaign emphasized grassroots support and progressive priorities such as housing affordability and tenant protections, which may resonate more strongly in certain demographics that vote by mail later.

Critics, including some Pratt supporters and national voices concerned about California election practices, have highlighted the dramatic reversal as emblematic of broader vulnerabilities in mail-in systems, including limited real-time verification and chain-of-custody concerns. Similar patterns have fueled ongoing debates over election integrity, particularly in high-profile races where late counts alter initial outcomes. President Trump and others have publicly questioned California’s processes amid the primary tallies.

Raman, a democratic socialist on the City Council, would set up a likely Democrat vs. Democrat November matchup against Bass if she holds the lead. Pratt’s campaign has not conceded the position and continues to monitor developments. Final certification is expected in coming weeks, with mail ballots still being accepted through early this week in some cases.

The race reflects deep dissatisfaction with Bass’s handling of homelessness, crime, and recovery efforts following the 2025 Palisades Fire, but also the structural advantages of established political networks and voting patterns in Los Angeles. As counting proceeds, the narrow margin and remaining ballots ensure continued attention on transparency and the integrity of the tabulation process in America’s second-largest city.