Spencer Pratt placed third in the Los Angeles mayoral primary with about 26 percent of the vote. Progressive city councilmember Nithya Raman overtook him in the count and advanced to the general election. Pratt and his supporters have alleged fraud in the days since the results.
The primary election took place last Tuesday. Early counts favored Pratt on Tuesday night and Wednesday, but mail ballots continued arriving under California's extended deadline. Nithya Raman's total surpassed Pratt's on Sunday, and major outlets called the race for her by Monday evening. Pratt had predicted an outright win before the vote. His backers on social media had promoted the idea that he would advance easily. After the loss, Pratt and supporters claimed the election was stolen, citing unverified theories about fake votes from homeless residents and suggesting Raman's reaction on election night indicated a concession. Mayor Karen Bass shifted focus after the results, criticizing Raman for positions on homelessness and policing. Raman had previously won her council seat in 2020 and secured reelection despite opposition spending.
