A city planner just beat a reality TV star to challenge LA's mayor

A city planner just beat a reality TV star to challenge LA's mayor Urban planner Nithya Raman narrowly beat Spencer Pratt in late mail-in votes to enter the November runoff against Mayor Karen Bass.

Los Angeles voters want change, and they are looking to builders, not influencers, to fix their broken housing market. This vote shows that people care more about rent prices than famous names.

City leader and urban planner Nithya Raman has advanced to the November runoff for mayor. She will face the current mayor, Karen Bass, in the general election. Raman won her spot by overtaking reality TV star Spencer Pratt as late mail-in ballots were counted.

The June 2026 primary election was incredibly close. Early votes favored Pratt, but mail-in ballots shifted the race to Raman. Housing experts predict that Raman will try to build much more housing if she wins the mayor's seat.

What the election data shows

• Raman overtook Spencer Pratt only after late mail-in ballots were counted.
• Raman now enters a two-person runoff against incumbent Karen Bass in November 2026.
• The city needs thousands of new homes to lower high rent costs.
• Primary voter turnout was shaped by late-arriving mail-in ballots.
• Experts predict a massive jump in home building if Raman wins.

The Bigger Question

Why do we look to famous people to solve real-world problems like housing? Spencer Pratt ran on his fame, but voters ultimately chose a policy expert who knows how cities work. This race shows that normal people are tired of flashy promises and want real plans for their neighborhoods.

Can a planner actually cut through the red tape that keeps LA housing so expensive? If Raman wins, she will have to prove that her plans can build homes faster than the current system.

The Other Side

Supporters of Spencer Pratt argue that his campaign brought new eyes to city issues that experts ignore. They believe an outsider could shake up city hall better than a career politician. However, the final vote count suggests that voters preferred professional experience over media fame when it came to local government.

What Happens Now

Voters in Los Angeles will choose between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman in November. This choice will decide how the city tackles its massive housing crisis. Renters and home buyers will see very different plans for building depending on who wins.

What We Still Don't Know

1. How many total votes separated Raman and Pratt in the final count?
2. Will Spencer Pratt endorse either candidate in the runoff?
3. What specific laws does Raman plan to change first to speed up housing construction?