Raman on cusp of becoming mayor, analysts predict, citing expected results from late votes

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Set us as preferred A jubilant Nithya Raman stood before cheering supporters at her election night party Tuesday, giving a speech that fell just shy of declaring victory, but one that urged the crowd at the Greek Theatre plaza to hold off on the celebrations for now.“I’m hopeful.I’m very hopeful,” Raman told a raucous crowd fueled by tequila and chicken tenders.

“I’m also really superstitious.So we’re all just going to be cool, okay? Very cool.”The initial vote tally Tuesday had Raman slightly behind incumbent Karen Bass in the race for Los Angeles mayor, but analysts were quick to point out that this was actually a strong indication that Raman would win.

Polls have consistently shown Raman is heavily favored by younger voters, who tend to vote later than older people and whose late-arriving ballots are considered likely to turn the tide in her favor.“The expectation is that once Nithya Raman starts gaining votes she will continue to gain votes.

There is not going to be a seesaw.It is likely going to be pretty unidirectional,” said Paul Mitchell, who heads the polling data firm PDI.

“I don’t call races.But if that expectation holds true then there is no reason to expect that Raman is going to do anything but gain votes from here.”Votes were still being counted the day after the election, but by early Wednesday morning, Raman had taken a slight lead over Bass.

“Nithya Raman is going to win.She’s going to be our next mayor,” said a gleeful L.A.

County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who has clashed with Bass and endorsed Raman a few weeks before the election.“It’s over,” declared Estevan Montemayor, who ran an independent expenditure group supporting Raman.Across town at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, Bass projected confidence on Tuesday night that she would triumph in her reelection bid.“Let...