A reality star had a massive lead in the LA mayor's race. Then the late votes wiped it out.

A reality star had a massive lead in the LA mayor's race. Then the late votes wiped it out.

City leader Nithya Raman wiped out a 40,000-vote gap to beat Spencer Pratt for a spot in the November runoff against Mayor Karen Bass.

When you go to sleep thinking your candidate won, waking up to a slow defeat feels like a punch in the gut. That is the reality for thousands of Los Angeles voters this week.

What Happened

On election night, former reality TV star Spencer Pratt held a lead of about 40,000 votes. He looked set to run against current Mayor Karen Bass in November.

Then the mail-in ballots started to trend the other way. Over the next week, city leader Nithya Raman gained about 60,000 votes to overtake him.

Now, officials say Raman leads by more than 21,000 votes. With 92% of the votes counted, news reports say Raman will take the second spot on the ballot.

What the evidence shows

• 40,000 votes: Spencer Pratt’s lead on election night.
• 60,000 votes: The amount Nithya Raman gained during a week of mail-in ballot counting.
• 21,000 votes: Raman's current lead over Pratt.
• 92%: The share of total ballots that have now been processed.
• 60,000 ballots: The estimated number of votes still left to count.

The Bigger Question

Why does it take so long to count votes in California? When results shift by tens of thousands of votes days after election night, it naturally breeds doubt.

Even if the count is completely honest, the delay itself damages public trust. We need to ask if a slow system is worth the cost of people losing faith in their votes.

The Other Side

Election chief Dean Logan says the count is safe. He points to security rules like public viewing and tracking steps. But critics like federal lawyer Bill Essayli argue the system is poorly made and hurts public trust.

Based on the proof, the complaints about cheating seem to be driven more by anger over the slow process than actual facts.

What Happens Now

Now, voters face a choice between two local leaders, Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, in November.

For people who wanted a total outsider like Pratt to shake up city hall, they must now choose who is the lesser of two evils.

What We Still Don't Know

1. Will Spencer Pratt challenge these final results in court?
2. How many of the remaining 60,000 ballots will actually be valid?
3. Where will Pratt's supporters cast their votes in November?