In the ongoing Los Angeles mayoral primary, Nithya Raman has moved into second place, surpassing Spencer Pratt, as the vote count continues. Initially, Bass led Pratt by 4.4 percentage points, while Pratt had an 8.1-point lead over Raman.
However, as more mail-in ballots are counted, Bass's lead over Pratt has increased to nearly 8 points, and Raman now leads Pratt by about 0.4 points, or approximately 3,100 votes.
The slow counting process in California, which allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within seven days, has led to a significant number of late mail ballots being returned by Democrats, benefiting Bass and Raman. The remaining ballots, estimated at around 150,000, could further influence the final outcome.
The election has sparked claims of fraud from some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who suggested that Democrats are manipulating the results. The general election is expected to serve as a referendum on Bass's leadership, with Raman and Pratt presenting contrasting challenges.
Pratt, a Republican, focuses on conservative issues like homelessness, while Raman, a progressive Democrat, aims to address housing and city services. The dynamics of this race could have implications for the political landscape in Los Angeles, particularly if Raman advances to the runoff against Bass