The results of the 2026 mayoral primary election in the largest city of California, Los Angeles, have been finalized. With mail-in ballots being counted continuously, Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has managed to secure the second spot, clinching a spot in the November mayoral runoff election, where she will challenge the incumbent Mayor Karen Bass seeking reelection.
According to the Associated Press on Monday, based on around 93% of the counted votes, Karen Bass led with a 34.4% vote share, while Nithya Raman followed closely with a 28.6% vote share. Republican candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt ranked third with 25.8% of the votes, failing to advance to the November runoff.
California adopts the “Jungle Primary” system, where all candidates from different parties run together, and the top two candidates with the most votes move on to the official election. Therefore, despite both Bass and Raman being Democrats, they will face off in the final showdown in November.
On election night when preliminary results were announced, Pratt was initially leading over Raman, leading many to believe he had a good chance of making it to the runoff. However, as more mail-in ballots were counted, Raman managed to overtake him with a slight edge, securing the second spot for the November runoff.
According to data from the California Secretary of State’s Office, around 79% of the votes in the Los Angeles mayoral primary came from mail-in ballots, with an overall voter turnout rate of approximately 32%. Mail-in voting has long held significant weight in California elections and often plays a crucial role in determining the final rankings.
Raman was elected as a Los Angeles City Council member in 2020, with the support of the Democratic Socialists of America, being seen as a key figure in the progressive movement in Los Angeles politics. In her mayoral campaign, she advocates for increasing housing supply, strengthening tenant protections, protecting immigrant community rights, and positioning Los Angeles as a leading city in global climate governance.
Incumbent Mayor Bass also aligns with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. She became the first female mayor of Los Angeles in 2022 and has prioritized addressing homelessness, improving public safety, and alleviating housing shortages during her tenure. However, she received criticism from some voters for her handling of the extensive wildfires that struck Los Angeles in 2025.
Pratt has repeatedly criticized Bass’s handling of the wildfire crisis during his campaign. The wildfires that swept through the Los Angeles area in 2025 resulted in thousands of homes destroyed, including damage to Pratt’s own residence, making related issues a key focus of this election.
Overall, the mayoral race in Los Angeles is shaping up to be a vigorous competition between Bass and Raman, each bringing their own vision and priorities for the city’s future development and governance. The November runoff will determine who will lead the city forward in the coming years.