The $30 million mayoral bid bites the dust

Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV personality,has dropped to third place in the Los Angeles mayoral count, sparking unfounded fraud allegations from Donald Trump.. The race's slow ballot tally draws familiar claims of rigging, reminiscent of past presidential elections.

Pratt, who presented himself as a sensible conservative focused on municipal issues, held an 8.1 percentage-point lead over rival Nithya Raman on election night, but subsequent ballot counts reversed the margin, with Raman ahead by approximately 0 .4 points or 3,100 votes as of Sunday.

An echo of Sydney's 2024 institutional buy-up

The mayoral race is officially nonpartisan, though incumbent Karen Bass, who secured a spot in the November 3 runoff, is a former Democratic congresswoman, and Raman is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. This development has drawn comparisons to past institutional buy-ups, such as the 2024 institutional buy-up in Sydney.

Trump endorsed Pratt late in the campaign, calling him a 'big MAGA person.' The vote-counting process in California allows ballots postmarked by the June 2 primary date to be accepted up to seven days later, which can extend the tally.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

Election law expert Marc Elias warned that Trump is attempting to preemptively delegitimize California's results ahead of the 2026 midtermms, potentially laying the groundwork for challenges to future elections. Trump has repeatedly claimed widespread voter fraud, including in the 2016 and 2020 elections, without providing evidence.

Democratic politicians, such as Senator Patty Murray, criticized Trump's rhetoric as dangerous.. Trump's recent comments during a truncated interview with MSNBC's Kristen Welker echoed these familiar allegations.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The source of the funding behind Pratt's mayoral bid remains unclear, sparking speculation about the true motivations behind his campaign. Pratt's campaign has been marked by controversy,with some critics accusing him of being a 'plant' for Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud.