Is Spencer Pratt Out? Latest LA Mayor Results Reveal Dramatic Turnaround
The 2026 Los Angeles mayoral election has become one of the most closely watched local races in the United States, with reality television personality Spencer Pratt and City Council member Nithya Raman locked in a fierce battle for a place in the November runoff. As vote counting continues across Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has secured her position in the general election. The major question now is who will join her on the November ballot. Recent results show Raman narrowly overtaking Pratt, turning what was once a surprising political rise into a tense contest that remains undecided.
According to the latest vote tallies, Nithya Raman has moved ahead of Spencer Pratt by a small margin of roughly 0.4 percentage points, representing about 3,100 votes. Election officials continue to process mail ballots, which have gradually shifted the race in Raman’s favor. On election night, Pratt appeared poised to secure second place. However, as additional ballots were counted over the following days, Raman steadily gained ground and eventually overtook the former reality TV star.
Known nationally for his appearance on the MTV reality series The Hills, Spencer Pratt entered the mayoral race as a political outsider. Pratt’s campaign focused heavily on public safety, homelessness, wildfire preparedness, and city infrastructure. He attracted attention through social media, celebrity endorsements, and a populist message that resonated with voters frustrated by city government. His candidacy gained momentum throughout the spring, transforming him from a long-shot candidate into a serious contender capable of challenging established political figures. Polls released before the election showed Pratt running neck-and-neck with Mayor Bass and Raman.
Meanwhile, Nithya Raman campaigned on housing affordability, homelessness solutions, economic development, and government accountability. Raman, who serves on the Los Angeles City Council, positioned herself as a progressive alternative to the city’s political establishment. Her campaign focused on increasing housing production, improving city services, and addressing long-term affordability concerns facing Los Angeles residents. Political analysts note that late-arriving mail ballots have historically favored Democratic and progressive candidates in California elections, helping explain Raman’s recent surge.
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has already secured a spot in the November runoff after finishing first in the primary vote count. Bass entered the election facing criticism over issues including homelessness, public safety, and the city’s response to recent wildfires. Despite those challenges, she maintained enough support to advance comfortably to the next round.
Election officials are continuing to process outstanding ballots, meaning the battle between Pratt and Raman is not officially over. Thousands of votes remain uncounted, and the margin separating the two candidates remains extremely narrow. If current trends continue, Raman is expected to secure the second runoff position and face Bass in November. However, until final certification is complete, the race remains one of the closest contests in California politics this year.
The Los Angeles mayoral race has demonstrated how rapidly modern elections can shift as mail ballots are processed. Spencer Pratt’s unexpected rise transformed the contest into a national story, while Nithya Raman’s late surge has positioned her as the likely challenger to Karen Bass in the general election. With the final count still underway, Los Angeles voters and political observers across the country continue to watch closely as the city moves toward a potentially historic November runoff.
