Breaking
Spencer Pratt’s bid for mayor of Los Angeles has taken a major turn after the former reality television personality slipped from second place to third in the city’s closely watched mayoral primary. The latest tally showed Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman moving ahead of Pratt for the second runoff position behind incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who has already secured a place in the next round. The Associated Press reported that the race remained too early to call as the ballot count continued.
Pratt had held second place after the first wave of results, giving his campaign momentum and raising the possibility of a high-profile matchup against Bass. But later-counted ballots shifted the race, with Raman gaining ground in each update from election officials. CBS Los Angeles reported that Raman moved to 27.1% while Pratt stood at 26.6% with 83% of votes counted, putting her narrowly ahead in the battle for the second slot.
California’s top-two primary system sends the two highest vote-getters to the general election regardless of party, making the second-place battle especially important. Bass, a Democrat, is moving forward, but her opponent remains uncertain as election workers continue processing ballots. Pratt, a Republican and political outsider, entered the race with major name recognition and a message focused on homelessness, law enforcement, wildfire recovery, and frustration with the city’s political establishment.
The slow count has become a major part of the story. Scripps News, citing Associated Press reporting, noted that California ballots are mailed to every eligible voter and are counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. Los Angeles County also processes mail ballots roughly in the order received, meaning late-arriving ballots often shape the final outcome after election night.
Reactions
Pratt projected confidence after the initial vote count, saying he was prepared for the next phase of the race. According to CBS Los Angeles, he said, “I’m ready for whatever god puts in front of me.” He also said, “Now, I feel very confident.” Those remarks came before the later ballot updates changed the standings and tightened his route to the runoff.
Raman, who entered the race later than her rivals, framed her campaign as an uphill fight. CBS reported that she told supporters, “No one knew who I was; I was the last to enter this race.” She added, “We had no institutional backing. But what we did have was a vision for Los Angeles.” Political analyst Paul Mitchell also warned before the shift that Pratt was losing vote share in later ballot releases, saying, “Spencer Pratt has been losing share of the vote with every one of these new ballot dumps, and we expect that to continue.”
The Los Angeles mayoral race matters far beyond city limits because it reflects the national debate over public safety, homelessness, urban disorder, and accountability for Democratic-run cities. Pratt’s rise showed that even in Los Angeles, voters are open to a candidate willing to challenge the city’s governing class. His setback also shows how much late-counted mail ballots can reshape public expectations after election night.
Government should be transparent, fast, and clear when counting votes, especially in races with national attention. Voters deserve timely results, confidence in the process, and leadership that addresses real-world problems instead of explaining them away. Whether Pratt advances or not, the race has already exposed deep frustration in Los Angeles and renewed the urgency for serious answers on homelessness, disaster recovery, and the future of America’s cities.
