La Mayor Race: Nithya Raman Overtakes Karen Bass in Los Angeles

Nithya Raman has moved into the lead over incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral contest, according to vote counts released early Wednesday. The latest tallies show Raman with 354,214 votes (50.55%) and Bass with 346,513 votes (49.45%).

la mayor race results

The race tightened after initial reports at 1:44 a.m. gave Raman 338,740 votes and Bass 334,762 votes. Updated numbers at 2:05 a.m. pushed both candidates higher, confirming a narrow margin that kept the contest undecided for several hours.

bass vs raman showdown

Both candidates are Democrats, but their platforms differ on issues such as homelessness, public safety and city budgeting. While Bass emphasized her experience as former U.S. representative and city attorney, Raman campaigned on progressive reforms and expanded community oversight.

ca election results 2026 overview

Los Angeles voters also decided on the 2026 California governor race, where Democrat Xavier Becerra was quickly projected the winner over Republican Steve Hilton. The same ballots included dozens of local and statewide measures.

ca props results: Proposition 39

Proposition 39, which would have required voters to present a government‑issued ID at the polls, appears to have failed. Roughly 60% of voters who have submitted their ballots rejected the measure, while 40% supported it.

Implications and next steps

The la mayor race outcome could shape policy priorities for the next four years, especially in areas like affordable housing and police reform. Final certification of the results is expected within the next few days. For broader context on the 2026 midterms, see the Governor Elections 2026 live tracking page.

Sources: ABC7 Los Angeles, LAist, Los Angeles Times.