Spencer Pratt, the former reality television personality known for “The Hills,” fell to third place in the Los Angeles mayoral primary over the weekend, according to The Wall Street Journal. Late vote counts elevated City Councilmember Nithya Raman into second position, dimming Pratt’s chances of reaching a runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
Pratt had run an unconventional campaign that tapped into conservative and antiestablishment sentiment in the deep-blue city. Early returns from the June primary showed him in second place behind Bass, but as more ballots were counted over the following days, Raman overtook him. The Wall Street Journal reported that the majority of late votes pouring in have skewed heavily liberal, making Pratt’s path to leapfrogging Raman appear difficult.
The Associated Press has not yet called the race, as California’s vote-counting process continues. State law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within days afterward, a practice that has drawn criticism from some Republicans.
President Trump, without providing evidence, alleged that the late vote counts reflect irregularities, according to The Wall Street Journal. California election officials have defended the process, noting it follows state law and has been in place for years.
If the current trend holds, Bass and Raman would advance to a November runoff. Pratt’s campaign, which gained national attention for its viral social media presence and antiestablishment messaging, would end with a third-place finish. The race remains fluid, with tens of thousands of ballots still uncounted.