As Indian-origin candidate Nithya Raman edged ahead and became locked in a tight race with Republican Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayor primary, President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk revived their claims of election fraud. In the latest update of the primary vote counting, Democrats Karen Bass, the incumbent mayor, and Nithya Raman are projected to advance to a run-off election, while Pratt is unlikely to make the cut under California's open primary system.
Trump and Musk Question Results
President Trump declared that the election was crooked and that Republican candidates in California were being cheated. In response, the Department of Justice dispatched an Assistant U.S. Attorney to observe vote counting in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, California Attorney General Rob Bonta reassured the public about the integrity of the election process.
Elon Musk on Monday shared posts on social media that questioned the election outcome, particularly as Raman initially was not in a position to race ahead of Pratt. On election day, Raman herself admitted that the early numbers were not what her campaign had expected. However, in a surprising turn of events, she now holds second place in the race.
Primary Details
The primary election was held on June 2, and vote counting is still ongoing. California's election law mandates a drawn-out tally process. Ballots are mailed to every eligible voter and are counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and arrive at an election office within seven days. This slow counting process has contributed to the prolonged uncertainty.
Who Is Nithya Raman?
Nithya Raman, 44, is a progressive candidate of Indian origin, born in Kerala to Tamil-speaking parents. She made a surprising last-minute decision to run for mayor against her ally, incumbent Karen Bass. In 2020, Raman won her City Council seat by defeating an incumbent, and she was reelected in 2024.
Raman holds degrees from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she studied urban planning. She is married to Vali Chandrasekaran, an Indian-origin television producer and screenwriter in Hollywood. The couple has 10-year-old twins.
Comparisons and Context
Nithya Raman is often compared to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani due to their shared ideology, young age, and immigrant backgrounds. However, Raman does not hold the same level of influence among youth as Mamdani does. The mayor's race is nonpartisan, meaning no candidate had party identification next to their name on the ballot.
As the counting continues, all eyes remain on the tight race and the allegations of fraud from prominent figures. The final outcome will determine who advances to the run-off election in the coming weeks.
