Los Angeles Mayoral Vote Remains Too Close to Call After Initial Tally

The Los Angeles mayoral race ended with no clear winner as votes continued to count.

Incumbent Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman remained neck and neck through the early hours of the morning. Early returns showed a near dead heat, forcing both campaigns to wait out the long process of counting ballots in a city known for its slow election infrastructure. The uncertainty kept the mood tense in both victory parties as supporters watched live updates on screens and phones.

Raman addressed her crowd at the Greek Theatre plaza shortly after 11 p.m., refusing to concede any ground. She described the margin as razor thin and expressed hope for a late surge in the counting. Raman framed herself as a disruptor who would fix a city government she said had made problem solving seem impossible. She drew a line between the city’s film history and its role in creating the internet, positioning Los Angeles as a global cultural capital. She also smiled and acknowledged that critics often label her as radical and divisive.

Bass spoke from the Loews Hollywood Hotel around 9:30 p.m., leading with the news that Democrats had secured control of both the House and the Senate. She told the crowd that counting votes in Los Angeles takes time but said her team would finish on top. The atmosphere in her ballroom was calm and orderly before polls closed. Mark Ramos, chair of the Los Angeles Democratic Party, entered with high energy, calling it a good day to be a Democrat. He noted that Bass had performed well in the final weeks of the campaign and predicted a favorable result as ballots were processed.

Voters at both events cited affordability, homelessness, and housing as the main reasons they cast their ballots. Yvonne Wheeler, chair of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, stated that organized labor fully supports Bass for another term. Other supporters mentioned trust and familiarity as key factors. Some voters described Raman as an inexperienced outsider who has lived in the city for only 13 years. Michael Guy, a local consultant, argued that stability is important given the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympics. He said he preferred Bass not because she was his ideal choice, but because changing leadership midstream felt risky given her longer track record.