LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has advanced to second place in the June primary election for Los Angeles mayor, securing a spot on the November ballot, where she will challenge incumbent Karen Bass.
The Associated Press called the race on June 8 with 93 percent of votes in. At the time, Bass led the pack with 34.4 percent of the vote while Raman came in second with 28.6 percent.
Conservative candidate Spencer Pratt trailed with 25.8 percent of the vote, meaning he will not appear on the ballot in November.
The Los Angeles mayoral race is nonpartisan, meaning that candidates appear on ballots without party affiliations. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of votes, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in November.
Raman posted a statement on X expressing her appreciation to voters who supported her, saying she is “incredibly honored” for the opportunity.
“Now our fight for a healthier, safer, more affordable, and more joyful Los Angeles continues. For too long, City Hall has prioritized giving political advantage to powerful interests that fund elections,” she said.
“Meanwhile, working people pay the price in higher rents, depleted services, and a city that has stopped working for them. If you’re as frustrated by the broken status quo as I am, I hope you’ll join our movement to build a city that works for everyone.”
Elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2020 with backing from the Democratic Socialists of America, Raman challenged Bass, a progressive Democrat, promising “housing for all,” protection for renters and the city’s immigrant population, and a return to the Los Angeles’s role as a global “climate leader.”
While early election results favored Pratt, a former reality TV star and outspoken critic of Bass’ handling of the 2025 wildfires that destroyed his home and those of thousands of others, mail-in ballots counted days after the election propelled Raman to a narrow second place.
Mail-in ballots accounted for around 79 percent of all votes in the primary, with total voter turnout at 32 percent, according to California’s secretary of state.
Raman, who is of Indian origin with a background in urban planning, entered the race at the last minute after previously endorsing Bass for reelection.
After Raman advanced to the runoff, Bass’s campaign issued a statement criticizing her for failing to make efforts to reduce homeless encampments near schools.
“We look forward to winning a contest against an opponent who allows encampments near schools and fights against hiring more cops, yet is MIA [missing in action] on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades LA,” Alex Stack, a campaign spokesperson for Bass, said in a June 7 statement.
Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.
