Trump claims Spencer Pratt is ‘being cheated’ as he faces losing LA mayoral race to socialist

Days removed from California’s primary, the race for the Los Angeles mayoral runoff remains in limbo. As votes continue to be tallied, incumbent Karen Bass awaits her opponent, with a tight battle unfolding between city council member Nithya Raman and former reality television personality Spencer Pratt.

A Shifting Leaderboard

For the first time since polls closed last Tuesday, election data shows Raman overtaking Pratt for the second-place spot. While Raman initially trailed, she has gained momentum with every update from local election officials. Currently, Raman holds a slim lead of approximately 0.4 percent—roughly 3,100 votes—over Pratt, while Bass maintains a growing lead over both.

The vote counting process in California is characteristically methodical due to state law that practically mandates a slow-paced tally. Because mail-in ballots are processed as they arrive and are valid if postmarked by Election Day, the final results often reflect a trend toward late-arriving votes. Data suggests a strong showing from Democrats in the final days of the cycle, aiding the current positioning of Bass and Raman.

Trump Weighs In

As the count drags on, President Donald Trump has issued claims of fraud regarding the race, alleging without evidence that the election is being manipulated. Trump, who supports Pratt, also voiced similar concerns regarding the race for governor, where Republican Steve Hilton is currently fighting to maintain his spot in the general election against Tom Steyer. The President described both contests as “CROOKED” and “Rigged” in a social media statement.

While Democrat Xavier Becerra has already secured his place in the gubernatorial general election, the final makeup of the mayoral runoff remains uncertain, with an estimated 150,000 ballots yet to be processed.

Path to the General Election

Regardless of who secures the second spot, the November election will serve as a referendum on Bass. Should Pratt advance, he is expected to leverage his platform on homelessness and his criticisms of the city's response to the Pacific Palisades wildfires to rally conservative voters. Raman, conversely, is running as a progressive challenger, focusing her platform on housing construction and city infrastructure improvements.

Raman, who was elected to the council with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, launched a last-minute candidacy that surprised many observers given her prior endorsement of Bass for reelection.