In Los Angeles mayor election, Bass headed to runoff: AP, NBC News
Paris Barraza(This story will be updated with results after polls close at 8 p.m. on June 2.)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is headed to a runoff election in November, according to the Associated Press and NBC News.
That means one of the most populous cities in the nation will vote again between Bass and another top vote-getter in the June 2 primary election.
Early results show Bass is trailed in the primary by Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star who has spurred comments from President Donald Trump, and Nithya Raman, the city councilmember who pushed out an incumbent and collected the endorsement of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the race for her seat in 2020.
Early Los Angeles mayor race results
Here are the results for the leading candidates in the race with as of 10:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday, June 2, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
- Karen Bass: 139,485 votes | 36.65%
- Spencer Pratt: 112,453 votes | 29.55%
- Nithya Raman: 79,133 votes | 20.79%
- Adam Miller: 16,663 votes | 4.38%
- Rae Huang: 10,714 votes | 2.82%
What to know about the LA mayor race
Polls showed that Bass, Pratt and Raman were the leading candidates in this race. Pratt, who lost his home to the Palisades Fire last January, has described himself as Bass’ “worst nightmare” and as the candidate appealing to Los Angelenos’ common sense, framing his lack of government experience as an asset for a city in dire need of fixing.
Raman’s last-minute entry in the race earlier this year stirred buzz over what it would mean for Bass. She’s spoken about frustrations with how the city is being ran and concerns with the “political establishment,” pointing to administrative slog and scrutiny over the mayor’s homelessness program, Inside Safe.
They’re far from Los Angelenos' only options. More than a dozen people in total were on the ballot, including Adam Miller, the nonprofit executive and entrepreneur, and Rae Huang, the progressive pastor and housing advocate.
The mayor was elected to this role in 2022 after defeating businessman Rick Caruso.
Previously having served in the California Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives, Bass early in her tenure as mayor signed an executive directive on affordable housing and temporary housing. She also launched her Inside Safe program, intended to move people off the streets and from encampments into housing. But looming over Bass has been scrutiny over her handling of the Palisades Fire last year.
Despite that, Bass was reportedly endorsed by former Vice President Kamala Harris. Other big names include Magic Johnson and unions like the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.
If an incumbent doesn’t outright win in these non-partisan primary elections in Los Angeles, they are in trouble, said Fernando Guerra, political science professor at Loyola Marymount University and director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles.
“The reason you don’t win the primary is because the majority of the people don’t want you,” Guerra said.
Whoever wins will be tasked with leading the city for four years, including when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Other races to watch on June 2 in Southern California
Just like Los Angeles, numerous cities and counties in Southern California are holding local elections on June 2. These include elections for board of supervisors, district and city attorneys, superintendents and more. Here’s just a few we’re watching.
Los Angeles City Council
Los Angelenos will be electing who will represent them across swaths of the city. All odd-numbered districts have seats up for grabs. However, the race for city councilmember for District 9 — this area includes parts of downtown Los Angeles — is key in that its longtime representative, Curren Price, is termed out. Candidates for this district are Martha Sánchez, Jose Ugarte, Estuardo Mazariegos, Elmer Roldan, Jorge Hernandez Rosas and Jorge Nuño. This race has two write-in candidates as well, according to a certified list of write-in candidates.
Here are early results for District 9 as of 10:33 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk:
- Estuardo Mazariegos: 1,625 votes | 20.17%
- Jorge Nuño: 796 votes | 9.88%
- Elmer Roldan: 859 votes | 10.66%
- Jorge Hernandez Rosas: 416 votes | 5.16%
- Martha Sánchez: 825 votes | 10.24%
- Jose Ugarte: 3,535 votes | 43.88%
Meanwhile, incumbent Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park is defending her District 11 seat from Faizah Malik, a civil rights attorney endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, Los Angeles. The district includes more affluent areas of the city like the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood.
Here are early results for District 11 as of 10:33 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk:
- Faizah Malik: 14,285 votes | 33.90%
- Traci Park: 27,850 votes | 66.10%
Los Angeles County sales tax increase for health care services
Voters will decide on a countywide, temporary general sales tax increase of half a percent. The sales tax is in response to anticipated strain on health care and other services in the county due to Trump’s tax and spending bill signed into law last year. The increase is expected to generate $1 billion annually and would be in effect for five years if voters approve it.
Here are the results for the measure as of 10:33 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk:
- Yes: 438,067 votes | 46.74%
- No: 499,242 votes | 53.26%
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
The Los Angeles County Supervisors govern a sprawling county made up of nearly 100 cities and millions of residents. Naturally, whoever serves in one of two open seats in this election is worth watching.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents District 1, is termed out. The district, which spans from Alhambra to Pomona, is up for grabs among five contenders: Noel Almario, Elaine Alaniz, Maria Elena Durazo, Annabella Figueroa Mazariegos and David E. Argudo.
Here are the results for District 1 as of 10:33 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk:
- Elaine Alaniz: 22,432 votes | 15.65%
- Noel Almario: 12,643 votes | 8.82%
- David E. Argudo: 14,214 votes | 10.71%
- Maria Elena Durazo: 82,767 votes | 57.73%
- Annabella Figueroa Mazariegos: 10,164 votes | 7.09%
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, an incumbent, is running for reelection for her District 3, which comprises swaths of the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. Horvath faces Tonia Arey, Carmenlina Minasyan and Tomás Sidenfaden.
Here are the results for District 3 as of 10:33 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk:
- Tonia Arey: 38,788 votes | 18.90%
- Lindsey Horvath: 131,890 votes | 64.26%
- Carmenlina Minasyan: 17,408 votes | 8.48%
- Tomás Sidenfaden: 17,146 votes | 8.35%
Election results timing
Early results from ballots cast before Election Day trickled in after polls closed on June 2, however, counting ballots will continue after Election Day, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].