Raman leads Bass in tight mayoral race as counts continue

The lead in the Los Angeles mayoral election shifted on Wednesday. City Councilwoman Nithya Raman now holds a narrow advantage over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. This development changes the early picture for residents watching the count.

The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office released the latest figures. Raman has received 338,740 votes. That total represents 50.30% of the current count. Bass has 334,762 votes, or 49.70%. The gap is roughly 4,000 votes.

Ballot counting will continue through this week and potentially into the following weeks. The winner may not be known for several days. Some analysts suggested that Bass’ early lead on Tuesday could be temporary. They noted that Raman’s base of younger voters often casts ballots closer to Election Day. This timing could allow Raman to overtake the incumbent as late-arriving mail ballots are processed.

Bass spoke to supporters in Hollywood on Tuesday night. She expressed confidence in her position. “Four years ago, you gave me the honor of a lifetime to serve as the mayor of the city that raised me,” Bass said. “And every single day, I have carried that responsibility with me.” She highlighted her efforts to recover from the previous year’s wildfires and reduce homelessness.

Raman held an election night event at Griffith Park. She described the election as a demand for change. “They are angry about a broken status quo and the politicians who failed them over and over again,” Raman said. “But change feels good, doesn’t it?” She stated that voters are rejecting a city hall that has become accustomed to saying no.

A recent poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies showed the race was close. The survey, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, found both candidates at 40% support among likely voters. Nineteen percent of respondents remained undecided. This result improved for Bass compared to a September poll. That earlier survey showed Raman ahead by 11 percentage points.

The campaign saw increased scrutiny of Raman’s record in recent weeks. Bass and independent political action committees focused on public safety. They questioned Raman’s call to remove LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. They also argued that the councilwoman lacks the experience to manage the second-largest city in the nation.

Tensions rose in early October over a video shared by Raman’s team. The clip featured Raman with an influencer. In it, Raman urged people to stop “fascist liars,” followed by images of Bass and McDonnell. Bass pressed Raman on this during a televised debate. Later, Raman called the LAPD under former Chief Daryl Gates a “gold standard.” This comment referenced Special Order 40, a directive that limits cooperation with immigration enforcement.

Raman has criticized Bass for high-cost projects. These include a billion-dollar agreement to raise police salaries and a plan to modernize the downtown convention center. Raman proposes improving basic services and bolstering housing production. Bass is seeking a second term to continue work on homelessness and public safety. Both candidates targeted undecided voters in the final days of the campaign.