Los Angeles Mayoral Count: Raman Extends Lead Over Bass

Nithya Raman widened her lead over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race on Wednesday, according to the latest official tallies from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office. Raman had accumulated 377,458 votes, representing 51.12% of the total, while Bass trailed with 360,864 votes, or 48.88%. The margin between the two candidates stands at 16,594 votes. Officials expect the counting process to continue through the week and into the following weeks, meaning the final winner may not be known until late in the month.

Political analysts observed that Bass held a narrow lead Tuesday but may have struggled as the count progressed. They noted that Raman’s support base, which skews toward younger voters, tends to cast ballots closer to Election Day. This demographic shift appeared to help Raman overtake the incumbent as more ballots were processed. Bass addressed her supporters in Hollywood on Tuesday night, where she celebrated Democratic victories nationwide and outlined her vision for the city's future.

Bass reflected on her election four years prior, stating that she has carried the responsibility of serving the city her parents chose to build a life in. She highlighted her administration’s efforts to recover from the previous year’s wildfires, oppose federal immigration raids, and reduce homelessness. “I have seen communities come together to stand up for one another, and I have seen people refuse to give up on the city, even when challenges before us seemed overwhelming,” Bass said.

At her campaign event at Griffith Park, Raman adopted a tone of cautious optimism while awaiting the final results. She argued that voters were motivated by anger over a broken status quo and politicians who had failed them repeatedly. “Change feels good, doesn’t it?” Raman asked her audience. She described the election as a fight against a city that had resisted change for decades, noting that residents had finally said enough was enough. Raman criticized City Hall for becoming accustomed to saying no and forgetting how to say yes.

A poll released last week by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, showed the race was tight late in the campaign. The survey found that both candidates held 40% support among likely voters, with 19% undecided. This result improved upon a September poll from the same institute, which had Raman leading by 11 percentage points. The data suggests the race remained competitive until the final days of voting.

Tensions between the two candidates escalated in recent weeks as Bass and independent political action committees targeted Raman on public safety and experience. A key flashpoint involved Raman’s campaign video, which featured her urging people to “stop fascist liars” alongside images of Bass and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. Bass pressed Raman on the video during a televised debate. Raman faced further scrutiny after describing the LAPD under former Chief Daryl Gates as a “gold standard.” Gates oversaw the department during the 1991 beating of Rodney King, an event that sparked riots in 1992. Raman later clarified she was referencing Special Order 40, a directive on immigration enforcement implemented during Gates’ tenure, and apologized for her comments.

The candidates have also clashed over the city’s finances and service delivery. Raman has criticized Bass for budget-busting contracts, including a billion-dollar agreement to raise police salaries and a costly modernization of the downtown convention center. Raman proposes plans to improve basic services, boost housing production, and lower the cost of living. Bass, seeking a second term as the leader of the second-largest city in the nation, has argued that she needs four more years to continue progress on homelessness, housing, and public safety. She has accused Raman of being “not ready for prime time” for the role.

Both candidates targeted undecided voters in the final days of the campaign. The Berkeley poll indicated that Bass received more support from voters who backed Spencer Pratt, while Raman, who is more progressive, gained backing from the Democratic Socialists of America’s Los Angeles chapter. Raman overtook Pratt in the June primary to secure her place in the November runoff. The voting data showed Raman had stronger support among younger voters, while Bass had more backing from older residents. The two candidates competed intensely for the support of Black and Latino voters and the traditional Democratic base.