Nithya Raman knocks Spencer Pratt off second place in LA mayors race

Nithya Raman has overtaken Spencer Pratt for the first time in the race for second place in Los Angeles’ mayoral contest.New results released by Los Angeles County show Raman with 196,198 votes, or 27.12%, compared with Pratt’s 193,085 votes, or 26.69%.The latest tally gives Raman a 3,113-vote lead after she trailed Pratt by 7,494 votes just one day earlier.Raman picked up 19,096 votes in Sunday’s count, more than double Pratt’s gain of 8,489 votes.The latest batch of ballots produced a 10,607-vote swing between the two candidates, erasing Pratt’s advantage and moving Raman into second place.Mayor Karen Bass remained in first place with 250,871 votes, or 34.68%.

The turnaround marks a remarkable shift from election night, when Pratt appeared well-positioned to secure a runoff spot.As additional ballots have been counted over the past week, Raman has steadily narrowed the gap before finally moving ahead Sunday.Political observers have long noted that ballots counted later in California elections often come from younger and more progressive voters, a demographic that has been a key source of support for Raman.The latest results arrived as scrutiny of Los Angeles County’s slow vote-counting process continued to grow.Over the weekend, social media users circulated claims that one candidate had received zero votes in an election-night ballot update.

The allegation drew the attention of federal officials after U.S.Attorney Bill Essayli reviewed the claim.“There was a claim circulating on social media about an election night ballot update at the Los Angeles Registrar of Voters where one candidate received zero votes,” Essayli wrote.

“We reviewed official county records.The claim is false.

Each candidate received votes in every update.My office will continue monitoring the election counting process and will follow the evidence wherever it leads.”Pratt also responded to Sunday’s vote update on social media.Posting a photo of Raman, Pratt wrote: “...