Raman Overtakes Pratt for Second in LA Mayoral Primary

The Los Angeles mayoral race has taken a dramatic turn as Democrat Nithya Raman has overtaken Republican Spencer Pratt to secure second place in the primary election, according to ballot counts released Sunday evening, June 7.

The 44-year-old Los Angeles City Council member now holds 27.12% of the vote, narrowly surpassing the 42-year-old former reality television personality who sits at 26.69%. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, 72, maintains a substantial lead with 34.68% of the vote, securing her position in the November runoff election.

The shift represents a significant reversal of fortune for Raman, who had been trailing Pratt by a considerable margin prior to Sunday's count. The razor-thin difference between second and third place means Pratt now faces the prospect of elimination from the November showdown, despite earlier momentum that suggested he would advance his candidacy.

The race has been marked by controversy, particularly surrounding a campaign advertisement produced by Pratt that featured footage filmed outside the homes of both Raman and Bass. The advertisement drew sharp criticism from Raman's campaign in late April.

"Filming outside my home, where I live with my young children, feels unnecessary and reckless," a spokesperson for "Nithya for Mayor" told Us Weekly on April 30. The controversial ad showed Pratt visiting the residences of his opponents while declaring, "This is where Mayor Bass lives. Notice something? Or here, where Nithya Raman's $3 million mansion sits? They don't have to live in the mess they've created."

Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, have been living in a trailer with their two children since losing their home in the 2025 Palisades wildfires. The personal tragedy became central to his campaign narrative and his decision to enter the political arena.

The former star of "The Hills" announced his candidacy one year after the devastating fires, framing his campaign as a response to systemic failures in city governance. At the "They Let Us Burn" public demonstration that launched his mayoral bid, Pratt delivered a pointed critique of Los Angeles leadership.

"The system in Los Angeles isn't struggling; it's fundamentally broken," Pratt declared at the campaign launch. "It is a machine designed to protect the people at the top and the friends they exchange favors with while the rest of us drown in toxic smoke and ash. Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I'm done waiting for someone to take real action."

In a May 27 interview, Pratt acknowledged the unexpected trajectory of his political journey. "I truly never imagined I would actually, probably [become] the mayor," he told Us Weekly. "I just wanted somebody to [tell] the truth, and I wanted to have that platform as a candidate against [Bass] to get the truth."

While Bass has largely avoided direct engagement with Pratt throughout the campaign, she has been more critical of Raman. During a Politico event in May, Bass questioned her fellow Democrat's leadership capabilities, stating, "I question her ability to lead the city when she struggles being a member of the city council."

The primary election took place on June 2, with Bass securing her advancement to the general election. As ballot counting continues, the narrow margin between Raman and Pratt means the final determination of who will face Bass in November remains uncertain. The outcome will shape not only the trajectory of the mayoral race but also the broader conversation about Los Angeles governance, housing policy, and disaster response in the aftermath of the devastating 2025 wildfires.

Additional ballot counts are expected in the coming days as election officials process remaining votes, which could further shift the standings in this closely watched contest.