As the dust settles on the initial count of ballots in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral primary, the contest for the second-place spot in the upcoming November 3 runoff has tightened significantly. Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman is currently narrowing the margin between her campaign and that of reality television personality Spencer Pratt. This shift in the electoral landscape underscores the volatility of the city’s vote-counting process, where the gradual tabulation of late-arriving ballots frequently alters the projected outcome for candidates vying to face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
The race to determine who will challenge Mayor Bass—who is currently seeking a second four-year term—remains a focal point for observers of local government and political analysts alike. According to the most recent election updates provided by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, the gap between the candidates has shifted as more votes are processed. For voters and stakeholders, the current phase of the election serves as a reminder of the extended timeline required to finalize results in a jurisdiction of this scale, where mail-in ballots postmarked by election day continue to be accepted for processing via the Los Angeles County official election dashboard.
Shifting Margins in the Mayoral Primary
The latest data indicates that Nithya Raman, who has served as the councilmember for the 4th district since 2020, has effectively reduced her deficit against Spencer Pratt. While Raman remains in third place behind Pratt, the margin separating the two candidates has contracted compared to the figures reported on election night. On Wednesday, the gap was recorded at approximately seven percentage points, but subsequent updates have brought that difference to just under six percentage points. In raw numbers, Raman trails Pratt by 33,076 votes, a notable decrease from the 37,307-vote lead Pratt held just one day prior as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Mayor Karen Bass has maintained her lead throughout the initial count. The most recent update from county election officials places her at 35% of the vote, while Pratt holds 29% and Raman follows at 23%. Under the rules governing the Los Angeles mayoral election, if no single candidate manages to secure more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two finishers will proceed to a head-to-head runoff in November. The ongoing tabulation of remaining ballots is critical for both Pratt and Raman as they compete for that second position.
The Impact of Late-Arriving Ballots
The experience of watching election results shift over several days is not new for the Los Angeles electorate. Political analysts often point to the 2022 mayoral primary as a primary example of this phenomenon, where initial leads held by candidates were eroded or overtaken as the county completed the intake of mail-in ballots. This process, while time-consuming, is a standard feature of the county’s commitment to ensuring all eligible votes cast by the deadline are included in the final tally as outlined by the California Secretary of State’s election guidelines.
The persistence of these trends highlights the importance of patience for the public as results are finalized. With mail-in ballots postmarked by election day still being processed through the coming Tuesday, the final percentages for all candidates are subject to change. This ensures that the ultimate determination of the runoff participants remains a fluid situation until the certification of the results by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
What Happens Next
For residents and interested observers, the next major checkpoint will be the continued release of updated vote tallies by the county registrar. These updates are typically posted periodically as batches of ballots—including those received by mail and those dropped off at official voting centers—are verified and counted. Candidates and their campaign teams are currently monitoring these releases to project whether the current trajectory will allow them to secure a spot in the November 3 runoff.
As the registrar continues its work, the official website remains the most reliable source for the latest figures. The finalization of the primary results is a necessary step before the city can officially pivot to the general election phase. We will continue to track these developments as the county moves toward a finalized count. If you have questions regarding the status of your own ballot or the timeline for certification, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk official portal provides comprehensive resources for voters.
This evolving story remains at the forefront of local political discourse. As we await further updates, we invite our readers to share their thoughts on the primary process and the issues most pertinent to the future of Los Angeles. Join the conversation in the comments section below as we monitor the path to the November runoff.
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