Nithya Raman Advances to Face Karen Bass in L.A. Mayoral Runoff
City Councilmember Nithya Raman will face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a November runoff after surpassing Spencer Pratt in late-counted ballots following the June 2 primary.
CBS NewsNithya Raman defeats Spencer Pratt to face Karen Bass in LA mayoral election, CBS News projects
CBS NewsRaman tops Pratt in battle to face Bass for LA mayor; outcome of California governor's race remains elusive
The GuardianNithya Raman edges out Spencer Pratt to face Karen Bass in LA mayoral runoff
Washington ExaminerWhat to know about Nithya Raman, the LA mayor challenger to Karen Bass
Overview
Election projections show Nithya Raman overtook Spencer Pratt to advance to a November runoff against Mayor Karen Bass.
The runoff creates a Democrat-versus-Democrat contest to lead a city of nearly 4 million that is grappling with homelessness and housing affordability.
Bass's campaign spokesperson Alex Stack criticized Raman's positions on encampments near schools and policing and said the campaign looks forward to winning.
Incomplete returns showed Bass received under 35% of the vote, and late-counted mail ballots produced a nearly week-long delay after the June 2 primary before the second slot was determined.
The November runoff will decide who leads Los Angeles next term, and if Bass wins she will serve a second and final term as mayor.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the race as a contest between an establishment mayor weakened by wildfire fallout and a left-leaning challenger, while treating the Republican celebrity candidate as an outsider. Editorial choices—words like 'insurgent' and 'wobbly standing', selective emphasis on poll numbers, late-count trends, and Pratt’s reality-TV background—shape that narrative.