Los Angeles Mayor Race Set for Left vs. Establishment Battle in November

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman secured her place on the general election ballot after a contentious primary race that saw right-wing reality TV star Spencer Pratt exit the field. The Democratic Socialist of America member will now face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who has strong support from the city's political establishment but is also facing voter frustration over her tenure. Raman's victory was bolstered by an increase in mail-in voting among Angelenos, which helped her overcome initial deficits and secure second place on primary night.

Under California’s nonpartisan open primary system, all candidates competed in a single June election, leading to an intense debate within the city’s progressive community about how to vote. Rae Huang, another left-wing candidate with a platform focused on police accountability and public housing, entered early but ultimately finished behind Raman. The decision of whether to support Bass or Raman has divided the left, raising questions about unity ahead of November's runoff.

Analysts have drawn comparisons between this race and New York City’s mayoral election last year, where ranked-choice voting helped progressive candidates Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander cross-endorse each other, effectively preventing a conservative candidate from winning. Advocates for ranked-choice voting in Los Angeles argue that such a system could help mitigate the strategic voting dilemma faced by Raman's supporters and those of Huang, allowing voters to feel more confident in backing their preferred candidates without fear of splitting the left-wing vote.