Spencer Pratt’s independent campaign to secure a spot in the Los Angeles mayoral runoff faces growing uncertainty nearly a week after Election Day. The reality television personality’s margin over Democrat City Councilmember Nithya Raman has narrowed to just 1% as Los Angeles County continues processing thousands of remaining ballots. With incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass already confirmed to advance to the November runoff, Pratt and Raman remain locked in a tight battle for the second position on the ballot.
The latest tally from election officials shows Pratt leading Raman by 7,494 votes with 78% of ballots counted. Bass maintains first place with 235,180 votes, representing 34.8% of the total. Pratt holds 184,596 votes at 27.3%, while Raman trails with 177,102 votes at 26.2%. California law allows counties to count ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven days, extending the counting process significantly beyond election night.
Late ballot batches favor Raman in dramatic shift
The most recent ballot update delivered a significant boost to Raman’s campaign, as she gained 23,514 votes compared to Pratt’s 10,336-vote increase. This single-day swing cut Pratt’s advantage by 13,178 votes, pushing the contest for second place into uncertain territory. The trend has drawn national attention, with the Republican National Committee launching a website tracker counting the seconds since California polls closed on June 2, 2026.
Under California’s top-two primary system, if no candidate wins more than 50% of votes, the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election. Election officials must complete the count within 30 days and certify results by July 10. The prolonged counting process has sparked criticism across the political spectrum, with observers questioning the efficiency of the state’s election infrastructure.
Pratt questions counting process on social media
Pratt took to social media Saturday night to express frustration with the ongoing count. He posted a meme with the caption “Me trying to figure out how votes get counted in LA,” reflecting concerns shared by his supporters about the extended timeline. Conservative voices on social media have raised questions about the legitimacy of later-counted ballots consistently favoring Raman.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy directly attributed the delayed results to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s election law changes. McCarthy noted that when Newsom was first elected governor, election results were known within one to two days, compared to the current multi-week counting period. He highlighted changes including same-day voter registration, universal mail-in ballots, and the elimination of voter ID requirements as contributing factors to the prolonged process.
Democrats point to voter registration advantage
Democratic officials have defended the counting process as standard procedure for California elections. Representative Ted Lieu emphasized the mathematical reality of Los Angeles voter registration, noting approximately 1,224,737 registered Democrats compared to 326,292 registered Republicans in the county. This four-to-one advantage, Democrats argue, naturally explains why later-counted mail-in ballots tend to favor their candidates.
Longtime Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo dismissed criticism of the counting timeline as uninformed commentary from out-of-state observers. He characterized the process as normal for California elections and suggested critics unfamiliar with state procedures should refrain from commentary. The strategist expressed confidence that the trend would result in a Raman runoff appearance.
- Bass secured 235,180 votes, guaranteeing her spot in the November runoff
- Pratt currently holds 184,596 votes with a narrow 1% lead over Raman
- Raman gained more than double Pratt’s votes in the most recent ballot update
- Los Angeles County has until July 10 to certify final election results
- The Republican National Committee has launched a tracking website monitoring the counting delay
National attention focuses on ballot counting timeline
The close race has attracted commentary from prominent political figures and technology leaders. Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, claimed that California’s prohibition of voter ID combined with mail-in voting enables large-scale fraud. Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck noted that artificial intelligence could not identify a single historical example of a third-place candidate surging to overtake second place days after Election Day.
McCarthy emphasized that California previously maintained liberal absentee ballot rules while ensuring accountability through earlier voter registration deadlines. He noted that cutting off registration 30 days before elections helped county registrars prepare accurate voter rolls and provided clarity to campaigns. The current system of same-day registration and universal mail-in ballots, he argued, introduces unnecessary doubt into the electoral process.
Supreme Court case could impact future ballot counting
President Donald Trump weighed in on the controversy, with the Republican National Committee pointing to the pending Watson v. RNC Supreme Court decision on late ballot counting. The case could establish new precedents for when states must stop accepting ballots, potentially affecting future California elections. A decision is expected before the end of June 2026.
The Republican National Committee’s Election Integrity unit has boots on the ground monitoring the Los Angeles count while simultaneously fighting in federal court to stop ballots received after Election Day from being counted. McCarthy referenced Raman’s election night demeanor as evidence of unexpected results, noting she delivered what observers interpreted as a concession speech and appeared emotional about finishing in third place. The fact that she has since gained significantly in later counts, he suggested, raises questions about the entire process. Election officials maintain they are following established California law and will deliver certified results well before the July 10 deadline.
