Bass wins, Pratt surges, Raman trails in early LA mayor count

Early vote counts in the Los Angeles mayoral election show Representative Karen Bass in the lead, with businessman Rick Pratt surging and city councilmember Nithya Raman trailing. The results are based on the first batch of ballots released Tuesday evening.

Bass, a Democrat who has served in Congress since 2011, holds a comfortable margin over her closest rivals. Pratt, a Republican and former technology executive, has seen a late surge in support, moving into second place. Raman, a progressive councilmember, is currently in third, well behind the frontrunners.

The race has been closely watched as a bellwether for the city's political direction. Bass has emphasized her experience in Washington and her plans to address homelessness and public safety. Pratt has focused on business-friendly policies and crime reduction. Raman has campaigned on a platform of housing affordability and police reform.

Election officials caution that many ballots remain uncounted, including mail-in ballots and those cast on election day. The final outcome may not be known for several days. The winner will replace Mayor Eric Garcetti, who is term-limited.