Raman Extends Lead Over Bass in Los Angeles Mayoral Race as Late Ballots Count Continues
What happened
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman expanded her lead over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass to 51.67% as ongoing ballot tallies surpassed 784,000 votes following the November 3, 2026 municipal election.
The Context
* A shifting tally: Initial election night returns showed Bass ahead, but overnight counts reversed the margin to give Raman 51.1% by 4 a.m. PT on November 4, an advantage driven largely by late-arriving ballots. * Core policy friction: The nonpartisan contest between two prominent Democrats centered on municipal approaches to homelessness, housing affordability, public safety, and stabilizing California's contracting film and television production sector. * A widening gap: As counting progressed through November 4, Raman’s lead grew to approximately 3.3 percentage points, with county officials scheduling additional ballot drops across the remainder of the week.
The Number
— Raman's vote share against Bass's 48.9% at 738,322 ballots processed (representing 62.7% of the expected total), highlighting how mail-in votes continue to swing late-stage outcomes in high-density metropolitan markets.
Takeaway
Watch for official updates from Los Angeles County election officials later this week to determine whether late-counted ballots certify an administrative handover at City Hall.
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