California’s Gubernatorial Primary Remains Tight as LA Mayor Race Narrows
Raman outpaces Pratt in battle to face – California voters remain in suspense as two pivotal primaries continue to unfold. The state’s contest to replace Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who completed his second term, is still unresolved, with candidates vying for the November general election. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the mayoral race has seen a dramatic shift, as Nithya Raman edges out Spencer Pratt in a closely contested battle for the second spot on the ballot.
LA Mayor Race: Raman Surges Past Pratt
Spencer Pratt, a political newcomer, initially held a six-point lead over Nithya Raman, a city councilwoman. However, by Sunday’s latest updates, Raman overtook Pratt by less than one percentage point, with 83% of votes tallied. The race for the November runoff now centers on Karen Bass, the incumbent mayor, who retains just under 35% of the vote. Raman trails slightly behind at 27.1%, while Pratt holds 26.7%.
“The snail-like pace of the vote counting process in California is just another example of the incompetence and uselessness of the state government,” said Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate, on X.
Pratt responded to the late surge in Raman’s favor by questioning the vote totals on social media. His campaign emphasized the need for transparency, while Bass’s team targeted Raman with a statement highlighting her policies. “We look forward to winning a contest against an opponent who allows encampments near schools and fights against hiring more cops, yet is MIA on saving Hollywood jobs and fighting back when ICE invades LA,” the campaign noted.
Runoff Set for November; Finalists Still in Play
Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, was projected to advance to the general election by CBS News on Friday. However, the outcome of his matchup against Steve Hilton remains uncertain, as some counties have not yet finalized their counts. Hilton, who initially trailed Becerra, maintained his second-place position through the weekend, though Steyer’s campaign reported a small gain in Sunday’s returns.
“This race is still too close to call,” said Steyer’s campaign website. “We’re going to wait until every ballot is counted. We’re going to give democracy time to work.”
Becerra’s path to the November ballot depends on finalizing results from all counties. With mail-in votes needing to be postmarked by Election Day and counted within seven days, the timeline for resolution remains fluid. Key updates are expected in the coming days, with Alameda County and Contra Costa County set to release their results by Wednesday, while Los Angeles and Marin Counties finalize counts on Monday.
County Ballot Drop Deadlines
California’s Secretary of State outlined a 30-day window for provisional ballot counting, ensuring results are finalized well before the general election. Major population centers will release their latest totals on the following schedule: – Alameda County: Monday by 4 p.m. PT – Contra Costa County: Wednesday by 4 p.m. PT – Los Angeles County: Monday by 5 p.m. PT – Marin County: Monday by 5 p.m. PT – Orange County: Monday by 5 p.m. PT – Riverside County: Monday by 6 p.m. PT – Sacramento County: Tuesday by 4:15 p.m. PT – San Bernardino County: Monday by 4 p.m. PT – San Francisco City and County: Monday by 4 p.m. PT – San Mateo County: Monday by 5 p.m. PT – Santa Clara County: Monday by 5 p.m. PT – Ventura County: Tuesday at 3 p.m.
With the wait for final results ongoing, both races will determine the next leaders of California and its largest city. The outcome hinges on the completion of vote counts, which will take place over the next several days.
