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

Days removed from California’s primary, the race to see who will face incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral runoff remains a nail-biter. As vote counts continue, progressive city council member Nithya Raman has surged past former reality television star Spencer Pratt.

A Tightening Race

Raman, who initially sat in third place, has consistently gained ground on Pratt with every update from local election officials. Currently, she holds a slim 0.4-point lead—roughly 3,100 votes—over the Republican candidate. With an estimated 150,000 ballots still to be processed, the final outcome remains in the balance.

Why the Count Moves Slowly

Vote counting in California is famously methodical, dictated by state laws that practically mandate a drawn-out process. Mail ballots are valid as long as they are postmarked by Election Day and reach an office within seven days. Because counties process these in the order they arrive, the recent influx has skewed toward Democratic-leaning voters who returned their ballots late, significantly benefiting both Bass and Raman.

Political Tension and Allegations

The extended timeline has sparked heated rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who has leveled unsubstantiated claims of fraud. The President specifically highlighted both the mayoral race and the contest involving Republican Steve Hilton, claiming that candidates he supports are being “cheated” out of general election spots. Trump labeled the contests “CROOKED” in a recent social media post, warning of “great trouble” while pledging a Department of Justice investigation.

Paths to the Runoff

Regardless of who joins Bass on the ballot, the general election is shaping up to be a clear test of the city's future direction. Pratt has built his campaign around a hard-line conservative stance, prioritizing the reduction of homelessness and criticizing Bass’s handling of the Pacific Palisades wildfire that destroyed his home. Conversely, Raman—who made a last-minute candidacy push—is running from the left, promising accelerated housing production and economic revitalization.

While Democrat Xavier Becerra has already secured a spot in the governor's race, the battle for second place between Hilton and Tom Steyer remains another major focal point for California voters.