L.A. mayoral candidates vie for the crucial Latino vote. Bass has an edge over Pratt and Raman

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It’s a Friday night happy hour at Distrito Catorce bar in Boyle Heights, and the regulars note that the crowd listening to Spanish-language jams has a few more unfamiliar faces than usual.The reason quickly becomes clear, as Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman arrives for a hora feliz con Nithya, sipping a Tajin-rimmed drink and making the rounds to pitch her campaign for mayor.Albert Orozco, 24, said he appreciated her efforts to reach Latino voters, including an ad in which Raman speaks Spanish.“We need a mayor who can communicate directly with the Spanish-speaking community,” Orozco said.

He said he voted for Karen Bass four years ago but is considering voting for Raman in the June 2 primary.Latinos make up nearly 37% of the L.A.

electorate, making their votes crucial for anyone with mayoral ambitions.That has campaigns putting out ads and social media posts in Spanish, hitting the ground in Latino majority neighborhoods and rallying for key endorsements.“Whoever wins the Latino vote will win the election,” Loyola Marymount University political science professor Fernando Guerra said.Right now that looks to be incumbent Mayor Bass, making it an uphill climb for Raman and other candidates.A poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by The Times, found that Bass led with 29% Latino voter support; former TV reality star Spencer Pratt followed at 16%, community organizer Rae Huang at 14% and Raman at 9%.

Tech entrepreneur Adam Miller received 3% support.In April, a UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs poll also found Bass with a wide lead.

“I think she has an opportunity to solidify the Latino vote with a strong primary performance,” said Matt Barreto, a professor of political science and Chicana/o studies at UCLA.“This is hers for the taking.”But there’s plenty of room to grow — for any candidate: Both polls found a l...