The three leading candidates in Los Angeles’ mayoral race showed little movement in the latest ballot count Wednesday afternoon, solidifying Mayor Karen Bass’ place in November’s runoff election while leaving the contest for second place largely unchanged.
Bass, Spencer Pratt and City Councilmember Nithya Raman remained in the same positions they held following Tuesday night’s initial results.
Bass’s share of the vote inched up from 34.78% to 34.97%, while Pratt slipped slightly from 30.44% to 29.91%. Raman gained modest ground, rising from 22.32% to 22.81%, according to the Associated Press.
About 63% of ballots had been counted.
The latest tally officially secured Bass a spot in the November runoff election, as the incumbent mayor remained one of the top two vote-getters in the nonpartisan primary.
With the latest vote totals, former reality TV star Pratt still appears on track to face Bass in November’s runoff after months of intense campaigning and a tightly contested race.
Polling throughout the campaign showed a narrow gap among Bass, progressive candidate Raman and Pratt, a political outsider backed by President Trump.
The mayor entered Election Day facing one of the most competitive reelection bids of her political career, with voter concerns over homelessness, public safety, affordability and the city’s recovery from the Palisades Fire dominating the campaign.
Addressing supporters Tuesday night, Bass expressed confidence in the results.
“In a few hours, we will declare victory,” she told the crowd.
The mayoral election works such that if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, the race is expected to continue to a November runoff between the top two finishers.
Unlike Bass, the Pratt camp was not declared the official victor just yet, but it ended election night in high spirits.
The political newcomer said a runoff campaign would provide an opportunity to introduce voters to the advisers and officials he plans to surround himself with if elected.
“I am ready for whatever God puts in front of me,” Pratt said. “We have five months to build our team, show the experience I’m going to surround myself with and put together the best team this city could ever dream of.”
Speaking to reporters outside an election-night gathering at Don Antonio’s Restaurant, Pratt said he was prepared for the months ahead and said he looked forward to debating Bass, so much so, he would do it every Friday until the November election.
The former reality television personality who mounted an unconventional campaign after losing his Pacific Palisades home in the Palisades Fire, struck an optimistic tone as early results rolled in Tuesday.
“At the end of the day what’s been resonating is that people just want the truth and they want to know somebody’s heart — I try to be as true to my authentic self and I just believe a lot of Los Angeles is so excited to hear from a non political,” he said.
The Raman camp, took a hit election night after coming in third.
She presented a message of hope, saying just a few months after her campaign launched she was not backing down.
Raman, who was the last candidate to enter the Los Angeles mayor’s race, reiterated her vision for LA — a city that is “affordable enough so it’s still a city of real opportunity.”
The city councilmembe said she has fought back against the “MAGA machine” and “we stand up against ICE.”
She said “voters know what the city needs”
DSA backed Rae Huang who was polling in low single digits conceded her race.
Another update from county election officials is expected Thursday. The official certification of the results of the June 2 primary will take place on June 26.
