Spencer Pratt's lead is now threatened by a progressive challenger.

A new contender, Nithya Raman, has surged into second position in the mayoral election, now just a step behind Karen Bass's lead. Unofficial tallies indicate additional ballots remain uncounted.

A sudden upswing in votes has propelled Nithya Raman, a progressive council member from Los Angeles City Council, into contention against reality TV personality Spencer Pratt's lead in the mayoral primary on Sunday, with a possible change in the ranking of second place now emerging.

The outcome of the election remains uncertain five days past its deadline, with Mayor Karen Bass's opponent yet to be officially confirmed for the November showdown in Los Angeles. According to the Associated Press, approximately 80% of votes have been tallied, but no clear victor has emerged from this count.

Liberals are gaining momentum with late returns, outnumbering their counterparts in the city's electoral landscape significantly.

A progressive challenger is now threatening Spencer Pratt's lead, which was previously secure, but a new contender has emerged to challenge his position, with Ms. Bass holding 34.7 percent of the vote in the November runoff.

With Ms. Raman's steady rise in support, she now holds a significant lead of 27.1 percent, surpassing Mr. Pratt by a margin of over 3,000 votes as the election count continues to unfold.

Pacific Palisades residents, still reeling from the devastating fire that destroyed homes, have turned their anger towards Mr. Pratt, a 42-year-old Republican, who now trails in third place with 26.7% of the vote.

In the Los Angeles mayoral election, a candidate can secure victory outright if they achieve a majority of votes in the primary contest. The top two contenders will then proceed to a November showdown, regardless of their party affiliations.

Mail-in ballots with an Election Day postmark can still be counted in Los Angeles counties until June 9, a deadline that allows for some flexibility in the vote-counting process, which often takes days or even weeks to complete accurately. Leads can shift significantly during this time.

A statement from Ms. Raman on Sunday expressed gratitude towards the thousands of Angelenos who have contributed to the campaign's momentum, citing recent vote count results as a source of encouragement.

A spokesperson for Spencer Pratt has yet to comment on the matter. The recent update on his lead has sparked speculation about potential voter irregularities, with some pointing to alleged discrepancies in Ms. Raman's tally.

Ms. Bass's stronghold on the center-left establishment in the city remains intact despite the challenges posed by wildfires and voter discontent. Meanwhile, her potential challenger, Ms. Raman, has managed to build a strong following among a younger, more progressive demographic. The key areas of disagreement between them are likely to revolve around issues that have been gaining traction with this emerging base.

Mr. Stack expressed enthusiasm for defeating an opponent who tolerates homeless encampments near educational institutions while actively opposing increased police presence, yet remains absent from efforts to preserve local employment opportunities and protect against ICE incursions in Los Angeles.