US Media: Left-Wing Candidate Enters Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff, Trump-Backed Candidate Eliminated

(Central News Agency, Los Angeles, 9th, comprehensive wire report) The runoff election for the mayor of Los Angeles, California, will take place in November. U.S. media predict that left-wing candidate Raman and incumbent Mayor Bass have advanced from the first round, while the Republican candidate endorsed by President Trump, Spencer Pratt, failed to make it to the runoff.

According to Agence France-Presse, citing Los Angeles County authorities, as of last night, Democratic Socialist and Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman had won 28.5% of the vote, surpassing Spencer Pratt, who was previously second with 25.8%.

Multiple U.S. media outlets, including CNN and NBC News, predict that although vote counting for the first round is still underway, Raman has secured enough votes to advance to the runoff.

The second-place finisher in the first round will face off in November against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who is seeking re-election. Bass, a Democrat and former U.S. Representative, was elected mayor of the nation's second-largest city in 2022.

Raman stated on the social platform X that she was deeply honored to advance to the runoff and would continue to fight to make Los Angeles healthier, safer, happier, and more affordable.

Bass also posted on X to declare victory, adding, "Los Angeles rejected Pratt and the MAGA (Make America Great Again) platform."

Pratt, a former reality TV personality, was publicly endorsed by Donald Trump. With his home destroyed in the wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area last year, Pratt focused his campaign on widespread dissatisfaction with the slow pace of rebuilding in Los Angeles, potholed roads, drug use among the homeless, and an inefficient city government influenced by special interest groups.

After voting ended on the 2nd, Pratt's vote share was briefly in second place, but as mail-in ballots were subsequently counted, his ranking was surpassed.

All registered voters in California receive a mail-in ballot, which is considered valid if postmarked on or before Election Day. Some ballots may arrive at counting centers several days after polls close.

The Los Angeles mayoral runoff will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd, on the day of the U.S. midterm elections. (Translator: Yang Chao-yen) 1150609