Nithya Raman is on track to unseat Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after the latest vote update widened her lead in the mayoral race.
As of Thursday morning, Raman had received 429,450 votes, or 52.10%, compared with Bass’ 394,796 votes, or 47.90%. The councilwoman’s margin stood at 34,654 votes.
The latest release added 39,984 ballots to the contest since Wednesday afternoon. Raman won 24,257 of those votes—nearly 61%—while Bass secured 15,727. Roughly 76% of all ballots have now been counted.
The results represented another blow to the 73-year-old incumbent, whose slim Election Night advantage has steadily disappeared as officials processed more ballots.
Bass began the night ahead by 9,941 votes, holding 50.84% to Raman’s 49.16%. That early lead fueled optimism among her supporters that she could win a second four-year term.
By the end of Wednesday night’s count, however, Raman had moved ahead by 26,124 votes, with about 67% of the ballots reported.
The race has undergone a striking reversal since polls closed. Bass’ initial lead of fewer than 10,000 votes vanished Wednesday when later-counted ballots pushed Raman into first place.
Decision Desk HQ declared Raman the projected winner Wednesday, though the Associated Press had not officially called the race in the latest available update.
Political observers say Raman’s strength with younger voters may have played a major role in her late surge, as that group often submits ballots closer to Election Day.
“Young people don’t see the kind of prospects available to them going forward their parents and grandparents saw,” veteran political analyst Dan Schnur previously told The California Post.
If Raman prevails, her victory would bring a major shift to Los Angeles City Hall following a hard-fought campaign centered on homelessness, public safety, high housing costs and dissatisfaction with Bass’ tenure.
A California Post poll conducted in October found Raman ahead of Bass, 46.7% to 38.8%. The survey also showed that 71.7% of likely voters disapproved of the mayor’s job performance.
The next mayor will face a long list of challenges, including a strained city budget, ongoing homelessness, reduced LAPD staffing and preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
