Nithya Raman Leads Mayor Karen Bass, but L.A. Is Still Counting

L.A. County election results have Raman ahead 51.67% to 48.33%, and mail ballots postmarked by Election Day still count.

A mail ballot postmarked on Election Day still counts in the race for Los Angeles mayor, as long as it reaches the county within seven days. That window is why City Councilmember Nithya Raman's lead over Mayor Karen Bass isn't a final answer yet.

Raman led Bass 51.67% to 48.33% after the L.A. County registrar's count released late Wednesday afternoon, LAist reported. Bass had been ahead by about two points when the first totals came out Tuesday night. Raman passed her early Wednesday morning as county workers counted around the clock.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Associated Press estimated that about 72% of the vote had been counted, according to LAist. Thursday and Friday each bring several new tallies. After that, the county expects to post at least one a day, most often near 5 p.m., until Nov. 13, then four more on Nov. 17, 19, 25 and 27. Certification is set for no later than Nov. 27.

Raman knows how much a long count can change. On primary night in June she was in third place, and she didn't pass reality TV personality Spencer Pratt until the sixth day of counting. This time she starts the long count in front.

Source: LAist, retrieved November 5, 2026.

From the Handbook: Vote by Mail Deadlines in L.A. County: Every Date for the Nov. 3, 2026 Election