In the days following California’s June 2 primary, attention turned to a large batch of mail-in ballots from Los Angeles’ Skid Row that reportedly broke heavily for District 4 City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman, a Democratic Socialist. After those votes were added, Raman moved ahead of viral candidate Spencer Pratt and claimed the second-place spot, pushing him into third and out of contention for the Top 2 runoff.
The late shift in the vote quickly sparked backlash. Critics of the result, including many Pratt supporters and some voters who had backed other candidates, called for a closer look at the ballot count and the circumstances surrounding the sudden change in the standings.
As my colleague Ward Clark previously reported, those demands may now be gaining traction.
Despite earlier skepticism from those who doubted any formal review would materialize, developments on Thursday suggested that a serious investigation may now be underway.
If that scrutiny continues, it could have broader implications not only for this race but also for the vote-counting process still unfolding in California.
It’s About Time: California’s Voting and Counting Procedures Are Getting Fresh Scrutiny
As my colleague Ward Clark reported:
The Los Angeles mayor’s race may not be as dire for Republicans backing Spencer Pratt as we thought. The “democratic socialist” (read that as ‘Commie’) candidate who recently surpassed him for the coveted second-place slot on the general election ballot, Nithya Raman, appears to have connections to some homeless voters, and it sure looks like there were some pretty egregious shenanigans going on.
Despite the nattering nabobs of negativity claiming nothing would happen, on Thursday, that serious investigation appears to have kicked off.
Oh, it’s on, and may well impact the counting still going on in California.
Federal officers descended on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles Thursday morning as part of a stunning investigation into voter fraud following LA’s mayoral election.
About 20 agents swooped in on the notoriously blighted area after homeless people living there claimed they’d been paid cash to sign multiple registration forms, forge signatures and fill out voter information ahead of the mayor’s race and governor primaries.
It’s About Time: California’s Voting and Counting Procedures Are Getting Fresh Scrutiny
On June 12, the California Post uncovered the homeless population in L.A. being incentivized to cast votes for either incumbent Democrat Mayor Karen Bass or Raman. The outlet even included some video interviews from the encampments with individuals admitting to accepting payment for their vote.
WATCH:
One woman living on LA’s Skid Row said people were paid to fill out and sign voter registration forms. When asked how many ballots she would sign at once, she responded: “Four or five. It depends.” pic.twitter.com/qJRfTvDL0H
— California Post (@californiapost) June 13, 2026
So, the Post’s eyes have been peeled for any new developments, and the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security supplied them.
The California Post witnessed three plainclothes agents fanning out across Skid Row’s rundown streets just before noon, interviewing dozens of people and taking notes.
Federal Homeland Security Investigations agents also particpiated in the probe.
The officers — dressed in jeans, sweatshirts and baseball caps — spoke to locals who appeared to point them in the direction of where to look.
The Department of Justice confirmed that federal agents were investigating a criminal matter, but declined to comment further.
The FBI said it does not comment on ongoing investigations, but The Post’s investigations have determined it was linked to voter fraud allegations.
