Spencer Pratt has voiced his concerns as delays persist in the counting of votes in the Los Angeles mayoral election. As recent tallies place him in third place, Pratt took to social media to highlight the unresolved vote count, stating that there are still hundreds of thousands of ballots outstanding. L.A. officials have indicated a three-week timeline for concluding the count.
Pratt expressed on his social media account, X, ‘Folks, we’re dealing with a fraction of a percentage point difference, there’s still hundreds of thousands of votes outstanding, and LA officials have given us the next 3 weeks to count! Let’s git-r-dun!’
According to the latest updates from the Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder, Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has moved to second place with 27.1% of the votes, closely followed by Pratt with 26.7%.
6th Congressional District Race
The count continues in the tight race for California’s 6th Congressional District. Though originally mapped to favor Democrats, reshuffling under Proposition 50 did not deter Kevin Kiley, a former Republican who ran as an independent, from pursuing the district. Current counts put him at 25.4%, slightly ahead of Democrat Richard Pan at 22.8% and Republican Michael Stansfield at 21.2%.
Los Angeles Mayoral Election Dynamics
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has already secured a spot in the November general election. Raman’s position has grown stronger, placing increasing pressure on Pratt, whose campaign could still recover depending on outstanding vote counts. Raman issued a positive statement, acknowledging the support received and building momentum.
Bass’s campaign spokesperson noted that particular opposition, like Raman’s candidateship, emphasizes non-traditional policies on homelessness and law enforcement, while not addressing crucial economic activities.
Next Steps in the Election Process
Mail-in ballots postmarked by June 2 will still be accepted until Tuesday. Officials estimate around 368,000 ballots are left to count in the county, a significant number that can sway the results one way or another.
Experts Weigh In
Political strategist Michael Trujillo commented on Pratt’s position, suggesting that Pratt faces steep odds in overtaking Raman.
Similarly, Zev Yaroslavsky from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs described the trend as favoring Raman, who has been gaining on Pratt steadily over recent days. While the race remains tight, Raman appears more likely to secure her place in the runoff than Pratt.
Claims of Election Fraud Surface
President Trump has once more reignited claims of election fraud on social media, specifically surrounding California’s ballots. Notably, he alleged manipulation without providing evidence, sparking controversy in both the gubernatorial and mayoral contests.
Following the L.A. mayoral race closely, Trump speculated that mail-in ballots were compromising the fairness of the election, though his assertions lacked substantiated proof.
The Associated Press has yet to confirm the final results, and political observers are keen to see how the situation resolves, especially in light of these accusations. The timing of California’s ballot counting process has historically been used to question the legitimacy of election results.
The Los Angeles Times previously debunked election fraud claims after confusion arose from an electronic tally update delay. The paper explained procedural nuances that can cause apparent shifts in lead positions mid-count.