Nithya Raman widened her lead over Karen Bass in the Raman vs bass race as more ballots were counted after Election Day. By Wednesday afternoon, she was up by more than 25,000 votes, putting her ahead in the Los Angeles mayoral contest.
Greek Theatre election night
Raman told supporters at her Greek Theatre election night party, “I’m hopeful. I’m very hopeful,” and added, “I’m also really superstitious. So we’re all just going to be cool, OK? Very cool.” She had reason to wait. Early Wednesday morning, she had only a slight lead, and the count kept moving in her favor through the afternoon.
Loews Hollywood Hotel watch party
At the L.A. County Democratic Party’s election night watch party at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on Tuesday night, Bass said, “Let me just say it takes a while to count the vote in our city, but pretty soon we shall know and I am confident with all the work that is done here that we will achieve victory.” Her campaign had centered on public safety, while Raman had the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Paul Mitchell of PDI said, “The expectation is that once Nithya Raman starts gaining votes she will continue to gain votes. There is not going to be a seesaw. It is likely going to be pretty unidirectional,” and added, “I don’t call races. But if that expectation holds true, then there is no reason to expect that Raman is going to do anything but gain votes from here.”
Los Angeles vote count
Wednesday afternoon totals put Raman at about 52% and Bass at about 48%, a gap that grew by a percentage point as the count continued. Final polling had shown both women at 40%, with 19% of the electorate still undecided, and that late count had been expected to move after Election Day.
Lindsey Horvath said, “Nithya Raman is going to win. She’s going to be our next mayor,” while Estevan Montemayor said, “It’s over,” as the results shifted. The same pattern had played out in the June 2 primary, when Spencer Pratt was ahead of Raman on election night before she overtook him five days later.
The count in Los Angeles was still moving on Wednesday, and the result had shifted enough to change the race from a close election-night picture to one where Raman held the lead. Whether Bass can still overcome that margin as counting continues is the open question left by the latest totals.
