Spencer Pratt'S Mayoral Dreams Shaken: Nithya Raman Surges Ahead In L.A. Race

Spencer Pratt Slips Behind in Mayoral Race

In a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood script, Spencer Pratt finds his bid for the Los Angeles mayoral race on shaky ground. The former reality TV star took a hit on Sunday, as City Councilmember Nithya Raman surged past him for the second place in the ballot count, leaving Pratt in her dust by over 3,000 votes. As of the latest results, Raman collected 196,198 votes (27.12%), eclipsing Pratt's 193,085 votes (26.69%).

Single-Day Surge Seals the Lead

Raman's leap to the forefront unfolded in a dramatic single-day swing, overturning a prior deficit of 7,494 votes. Sunday's count saw Raman gaining 19,096 votes, more than double Pratt's 8,489, leading to a swing of 10,607 votes between the two. What a ride – from leading the charge on election night to playing catch-up in a matter of hours! "A net swing of more than 43,000 votes since Tuesday… 43,000, huh? Where have I seen that number before…? Probably nothing," Pratt quipped on social media, referencing the city's homelessness statistics.

"We are encouraged by the latest vote count and remain grateful to the thousands of Angelenos who have powered this campaign," Nithya Raman's campaign expressed gratitude, as her supporters rally in anticipation of the November runoff.

Karen Bass Stays Ahead

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass maintains her frontrunner status in the race with 250,871 votes (34.68%), well ahead of her competitors. Her campaign is already setting its sights on the runoff expected in November. Alex Stack, the spokesperson for Bass's campaign, didn't hold back, "If Raman maintains that position, Mayor Bass looks forward to winning a contest against an opponent who allows encampments near schools and fights against hiring more cops, yet is MIA on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades L.A."

Drama in the Vote Count

The vote-counting process has not been without its share of drama. Social media claims of ballot updates featuring zero votes for a candidate drew the attention of U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who dismissed these allegations after reviewing official records. As of now, 83% of ballots have been counted. With tensions high, all eyes are on the remaining ballots and what the final count will spell for Pratt's political aspirations.