Nithya Raman is the LA mayor-elect after the Nov. 3 general election. Network projections show her ahead of incumbent Karen Bass, and Bass conceded on Thursday, Nov. 5. The vote is still unofficial, so the final margin can change.
What the count shows
Raman, a City Councilmember, led Bass by about 52% to 48% in the latest county figures that Fox LA reported. That gap was roughly 34,600 votes. Earlier on election night, NBC’s results page had her at 53.9% with 87.4% of the expected vote in. So the percentages moved a little as more ballots arrived.
Many ballots remain. As of Nov. 6, the LA County Registrar-Recorder had counted 2,762,038 ballots, a 46.75% turnout. It estimated about 414,000 were still outstanding, including 375,000 vote-by-mail ballots, 34,000 conditional voter registration ballots and 5,000 provisional ballots.
The race began in June. In the primary, Bass finished first with about 34%, Raman second with about 29%, and Spencer Pratt third with about 26%, according to CBS News Los Angeles. The top two then advanced to November.
Concession and transition
Bass conceded just before midday Thursday and called Raman directly, Fox LA reported. Raman’s transition team is now preparing to take over City Hall. However, none of the reports we reviewed gives an inauguration date, so check the city for that.
A concession does not end the count. County election officials still have to finish processing ballots, then certify the results. The registrar says it will keep publishing updates until certification, but it has not posted a certification date on its results page.
What it means for residents
For most Angelenos, nothing changes right away. Bass remains mayor until the new term starts, and city services, permits and budgets continue as they are. The new mayor sets priorities through the budget, appointments and executive directives, so changes would show up over the coming months.
Voters also decided city measures on the same ballot. For example, we covered the LA charter amendments that led in the unofficial count. Those results are also not final.
What to watch next
- Daily county ballot updates through the canvass.
- The date the county certifies the results.
- The announcement of the inauguration and transition appointments.
For more local coverage, see our Los Angeles and California hub. You can also follow the NBC Los Angeles results page for live numbers. This article is general information, not legal advice.