As ballots continued to be tallied in a right race to lead the nation’s second most populous city, L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman pulled ahead of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.

Bass had taken an early lead in her race for reelection when the first ballot drops were counted Tuesday night — but it was slight, just two percentage points against an opponent who’d finished second in the primary off strong late returns.

And that gap flipped over night as around-the-clock ballot counts were announced by L.A. County election officials.

LA City Mayor

Last Updated 11/4/26 at 3:11AM

Votes

Percent

NITHYA RAMAN

377,458

51.12%

KAREN RUTH BASS

360,864

48.88%

Source: Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk