Raman Narrows Gap on Pratt in LA Mayor Primary Amid Trump Claims

Vote counting in Los Angeles continues to shift the mayoral primary standings nearly a week after polls closed. With 87 percent of ballots tallied, incumbent Karen Bass holds 34.68 percent, Nithya Raman sits at 27.12 percent and Spencer Pratt trails at 26.69 percent, according to Decision Desk HQ. California's open primary system sends the top two finishers to the November runoff regardless of party, so the contest for second place determines whether a Republican reaches the general election.

The narrow margin between Raman and Pratt remains subject to additional mail ballots expected through early July. Pratt posted on social media that counting runs until July 6 and shared an image suggesting the process favors his position. No official projection has declared a second-place finisher.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the race is "CROOKED" and that two Republican candidates are being cheated, without citing evidence. He repeated similar assertions about California's governor primary during a speech in Wisconsin and earlier online posts. The Department of Justice dispatched an assistant U.S. attorney to observe the Los Angeles count. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated his office is monitoring compliance with state election laws.

Bass, the first Black woman to serve as mayor, faced wildfires in January 2025 and protests over immigration enforcement later that year. Raman, a progressive challenger, has drawn support that lifted her past Pratt in the latest partial tally. Pratt, a former reality television personality endorsed by Trump, has urged patience with the remaining ballots.

Parallel developments appear in the governor primary, where Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer and Steve Hilton lead, though that race is not yet settled either. Trump's statements on both contests have drawn responses focused on the absence of documented irregularities from state officials.