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Spencer Pratt out of LA mayor race as left-wing rival Nithya Raman advances

June 9, 2026

Following nearly a week of vote counting in California's primary election, Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has secured her place in the November runoff election against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Reality television personality Spencer Pratt, who initially led the race, ultimately fell short with 25. 8% of votes compared to Raman's 28.

Who is affected

  • Karen Bass (incumbent LA mayor advancing to November election)
  • Nithya Raman (city council member advancing to November election)
  • Spencer Pratt (reality TV star who lost the race)
  • Los Angeles residents (who will vote in the November election)
  • Victims of the Palisades Fire (12 people killed, thousands of homes destroyed)
  • Xavier Becerra (former Biden health secretary advancing in governor's race)
  • California voters (23 million registered voters)

What action is being taken

  • Vote counting is continuing for the gubernatorial race to determine the second candidate
  • Karen Bass is serving her current mayoral term while preparing for the November election
  • California election officials are sorting, validating, and counting mail-in ballots

Why it matters

  • This race will determine leadership for the nation's second most populous city during critical challenges including a severe homelessness crisis and housing affordability issues. The outcome is particularly significant given the widespread criticism of the city's response to the January 2025 Palisades Fire, one of California's most destructive fires on record that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. The election represents a potential shift in approach to these pressing issues, with Raman campaigning on the position that Bass has not adequately addressed homelessness, setting up a contest between an established political figure and a progressive urban planner.

What's next

  • The top two candidates (Bass and Raman) will face each other in the November general election
  • Vote counting will continue for approximately three more weeks to finalize all results
  • The second candidate in the governor's race will be determined once counting is complete
  • If Bass wins in November, she will serve a second and final term as mayor

Read full article from source: BBC