Los Angeles voters could be preparing to trade one Democrat for a Democratic Socialist.
City Councilmember Nithya Raman has opened an 11-point lead over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies/Los Angeles Times poll, with just six weeks until the Nov. 3 election.
Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, drew 39% support among likely voters. Bass was stuck at 28%.
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But a massive wild card remains: 33% of likely voters are undecided.
Poll director Mark DiCamillo called that number “extraordinarily unusual” this late in the race. The survey of 2,150 likely voters was conducted online Sept. 15-20 and carries a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.
Much of the uncertainty comes from voters who backed conservative-leaning reality TV star Spencer Pratt in the June primary.
Pratt finished third with 26%, behind Bass at 34% and Raman at 29%. Now 63% of his supporters say they haven’t picked either finalist. Among those who have, 22% back Bass and 16% support Raman.
Pratt wasted no time taking a victory lap.
“I told everyone that if you don’t vote for me, Raman will beat Bass,” he wrote on social media, according to Fox News. “Good luck LA.”
I told everyone that if you don’t vote for me, Raman will beat Bass. That’s why she entered the race 10 minutes before the clerk’s office closed. She knew I was gonna destroy Bass 1-on-1. Good luck LA. pic.twitter.com/00aaxVDTgb
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) September 23, 2026
He also called Raman “Karen’s karma,” pointing to Bass’ own 2024 support for Raman’s City Council reelection.
Raman is Karen’s karma. Stabbed in the back by the commie she campaigned for, took pictures with her family…the moment Nithya saw an opening, she knifed Karen. Good lesson to all you democrats: NEVER trust the DSA. Socialists have no morals. They’ll gut you, too. https://t.co/64sQm1qMZE pic.twitter.com/y1PTwVLPyz
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) September 23, 2026
The numbers offer another headache for Bass.
The Berkeley poll found 63% of likely voters view the mayor unfavorably, compared with 28% who view her favorably. Raman was nearly even, with 40% favorable and 39% unfavorable.
Bass’ campaign has pushed back, noting that other recent surveys show a much closer contest. An early-September internal Raman poll had her ahead 44%-39%, while an August poll commissioned by a Bass-supporting group had Bass ahead 41%-35%.
So one poll doesn’t settle the race — especially with a third of voters still up for grabs.
But for now, Los Angeles’ incumbent Democratic mayor is staring at an uncomfortable possibility:
The socialist she once helped elect may be the one who sends her packing.
