Raman Advances Past Pratt to Face Bass in LA Mayor Runoff

Nithya Raman, the progressive Los Angeles city council member, has edged out reality television star Spencer Pratt to advance to the November runoff for mayor, handing a defeat to President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate in the race.

With mail ballots continuing to be counted, Raman held 28.5 percent of the vote compared to Pratt’s 25.8 percent as of late Monday, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Multiple outlets including CBS News projected her advancement, setting up a contest between two Democrats against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.

Pratt, a former star of MTV’s The Hills whom Trump publicly championed, had briefly led in early returns after the June 2 primary. He repeatedly claimed outstanding ballots could close the gap, but Raman’s steady gains proved decisive. In a statement, Raman said she was “incredibly honored” by the result and pledged to continue fighting for “a healthier, safer, more affordable, and more joyful Los Angeles.”

Bass, the first Black woman to lead the city, secured her own spot in the runoff on primary night. She has faced significant challenges during her first term, including the January 2025 wildfires that devastated parts of the region and subsequent protests over federal immigration enforcement actions. Despite those pressures, she retains backing from prominent California Democrats including Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi. Her campaign quickly signaled an aggressive stance toward the runoff, with strategist Douglas Herman stating that Bass looks forward to winning a race against Raman, whom the campaign accused of tolerating encampments near schools and supporting cuts to police funding.

Pratt centered his bid on public frustration with slow rebuilding efforts after the fires, deteriorating infrastructure, homelessness and what he described as a dysfunctional city hall. The former Republican candidate’s loss leaves the November matchup as a choice between Bass’s record and Raman’s more left-leaning platform, which has drawn comparisons to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The outcome follows a pattern in several large Democratic-led cities where progressive candidates have prevailed in recent cycles even amid criticism of local governance on crime and housing. Raman’s narrow victory over the Trump-endorsed Pratt underscores the difficulty of shifting the political direction of deep-blue urban centers through high-profile outside interventions. Counting in other California races, including the contest to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom, continues with limited movement reported over the weekend.