Los Angeles Mayoral Race Update
In a recent poll by The Associated Press, Los Angeles City Council member Nitya Raman has surpassed reality TV star Spencer Pratt. Interestingly, no official race announcement has been made yet.
Earlier in the day, Pratt, a Republican candidate, appeared to be leading. However, the most recent figures indicate that Raman, a Democrat, is now ahead by over 3,000 votes, roughly 0.4 percentage points, in what is supposed to be a nonpartisan mayoral election.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who belongs to the Democratic Party, is vying for reelection, aiming for a second term. She’s already secured a place in the runoff election but is still waiting for the announcement of her opponent, as the Associated Press has yet to name a second candidate.
California’s slow vote counting raises eyebrows
Vote counting in California has been notably sluggish, prompting some to describe the situation as “very embarrassing.” Currently, Los Angeles County continues to tally ballots that were postmarked by or on Election Day and received by June 9, which has caught the concern of the Republican National Committee. County officials must finalize the official results by July 2, while the Secretary of State is set to certify the outcomes by July 10.
The prolonged counting process is quite typical in California, primarily because of mail-in ballots. Votes that are postmarked by Election Day can still arrive up to a week late, and officials need to verify signatures and handle these late ballots carefully.
As the Republican National Committee pointed out, “California’s primary election concluded on June 2, 2026, yet counting continues.” Their tracker even humorously counts the seconds since the polls closed, criticizing the state’s voting system as a “complete joke.”
Pratt and his fellow Republicans have expressed frustration over the ongoing count. Election officials explained that the extended tallying is largely due to mail-in voting protocols, signature verification, and the logistics of late arrivals.
Meanwhile, Bass has already made it to the runoff, adding to the tension surrounding the election.
Republican Kevin McCarthy, commenting on the situation, suggested that the delays are a direct result of changes made to election laws by Governor Gavin Newsom. He reflected on how, in previous elections, results seemed to come in much quicker.
Overall, as California navigates its electoral process, the outcomes remain uncertain, and many are left wondering what the final results will bring.
