The power of the progressive group in Los Angeles took a big hit on Tuesday night. Nithya Raman is a progressive city council member. She wanted to lead the city as mayor. But she lost her chance after a famous reality TV star got more votes than her. This vote shows that many people in the city are very worried about crime and safety. They are tired of just hearing promises and want real changes on the streets right away.

WHAT HAPPENED

On Tuesday night, June 2, 2026, people in Los Angeles watched the results of the vote for their next mayor. Nithya Raman stood in front of her friends and helpers as the numbers came in. The city workers counted more than half of the votes. The numbers showed that Raman was far behind. She was in third place with only 22.3 percent of the votes.

The current mayor, Karen Bass, took first place with 34.8 percent of the votes. Spencer Pratt, a famous person from reality TV, came in second place with 30.4 percent. Because Raman came in third, she is falling short. The top two people, Bass and Pratt, are likely moving on to a final vote in November.

When Raman saw the bad news, she could not hold back her tears. She spoke to her children at her watch party. Her voice broke and she started crying. She told them she had fought very hard to build a city “worthy of you”. It was a very hard night for her and her followers.

FACT BOX

What the evidence shows

• Karen Bass: The current mayor got 34.8 percent of the votes.
• Spencer Pratt: The reality TV star surprised people by getting 30.4 percent of the votes.
• Nithya Raman: The progressive council member got 22.3 percent of the votes.
• The Gap: Raman trailed Pratt by about 8 points in the race.
• Votes Counted: Election workers had processed 63 percent of all the ballots.
• The Surprising Entry: Raman stunned many people when she entered the race after previously supporting Bass.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

How does a real politician who works for the city lose a big vote to a reality TV star? This election shows that many voters are angry. Los Angeles has a lot of big problems like homelessness, housing costs, and public safety. Raman ran as a socialist-leaning candidate and promised bold, progressive changes to fix housing and help poor people.

But voters chose the current mayor and a TV star. People are asking if big progressive ideas can still win in a city that feels tired of waiting for help. This primary shows how hard it is for far-left candidates to win broad support, even in liberal Los Angeles. Many voters want quick answers right now.

THE OTHER SIDE

Raman has not given up completely yet. Her team says thousands of ballots still need to be counted. Her friends say her tears showed how much she truly cares about the city and its children, not that she is weak. She has spent years working hard on the city council to focus on homelessness and build more housing. She told her supporters she is proud to be an Angeleno no matter what happens.

On the other side, critics think her loss is a good thing. They say her progressive ideas did not work and made the city's problems worse. They believe her plans take too long and do not stop crime or clean up the streets today. From their point of view, Spencer Pratt got so many votes because he spoke for everyday people who want a safe and clean city right now. They feel the vote was a fair rejection of her ideas.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

Karen Bass and Spencer Pratt are expected to face each other in a big election contest in November. For the regular people living in Los Angeles, this means the debate will stay focused on the same big issues. Everyone will keep talking about street safety, tents, and expensive housing, but the two choices have very different styles.

Raman’s campaign appears over unless late votes dramatically change the results. This loss is a big setback for the progressive wing in LA politics.