Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has dramatically closed the gap with Republican reality TV star Spencer Pratt in the city's mayoral primary, according to Decision Desk HQ. As of Sunday evening, Raman secured 26.21% of the vote, trailing Pratt's 27.32% by just over one percentage point. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads the field with 34.81% and has already secured a spot in November's general election.
The shift marks a sharp reversal from just four days earlier, when Pratt held a commanding 30% to Raman's 22% advantage. Raman has since erased an eight-point deficit, narrowing the race to a statistical dead heat for second place. With no candidate surpassing the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff, the top two finishers will advance to the general election on November 4.
Pratt, a former star of the reality show The Hills and a vocal Republican, has framed his campaign as a rebuke to Democratic leadership in California. On Sunday, he posted on X: “Remember everyone…we are still in the lead, and we’ve got allllllll the way til July 6th to keep counting. They’re not the only ones who know where to find votes.” The reference to July 6th highlights the extended mail ballot counting period that has become a hallmark of California elections.
Bass, a Democrat, has seen her approval ratings erode following the devastating 2025 wildfires and protests over immigration enforcement that roiled the city. Despite these headwinds, she retains strong institutional support from key party figures, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Vice President Kamala Harris. That backing may prove crucial as the race moves toward a likely runoff, where Democratic turnout will be tested.
The tightening contest has drawn national attention, with analysts pointing to Pratt's surge as a signal of voter discontent with Democratic governance in deep-blue California. In a recent analysis, Van Jones warned that Pratt's momentum reflects a broader voter revolt against California Democrats. Meanwhile, the extended vote count mirrors patterns seen in other California primaries, where mail ballots can stretch results for weeks.
Raman's campaign has focused on progressive policies and grassroots organizing, positioning her as a credible alternative to both Bass and Pratt. Her ability to close the gap suggests that late-arriving mail ballots may be breaking in her favor. If she overtakes Pratt, the general election could become a two-Democrat contest, potentially reducing the ideological contrast but also risking lower turnout among progressive voters.
The outcome remains uncertain, with thousands of ballots still uncounted. The July 6th deadline for counties to report results leaves ample room for further shifts. For now, the race for Los Angeles's top job is as unpredictable as ever, with Raman's late surge injecting new drama into an already volatile campaign.
