LA mayor runoff 2026: Bass vs Raman with two weeks to go

Where the race stands

• Bass is the first sitting LA mayor forced into a runoff since 2005.
• Raman, who represents Council District 4, entered late. Spencer Pratt finished third in June with about 26% and is out of the race.
• The September Berkeley IGS poll surveyed 2,150 likely voters online (margin of error about 3 points). 33% were undecided, so the race is far from settled.
• Polls paid for by a campaign or its allies can tell a different story. We list only independent polls here.

	Karen Bass	Nithya Raman	Spencer Pratt	Undecided
June 2 primary (votes cast)	34.27%	29.02%	25.53%	n/a
Poll, Sept 15 to 20 (likely voters)	28%	39%	n/a	33%

Sources: LA County Registrar (primary results); UC Berkeley IGS / Los Angeles Times poll, Sept 15 to 20, 2026, via FOX 11. Checked October 21, 2026.

The race is officially nonpartisan, so both names appear without a party label.

What the markets cover

• Winner of the runoff: a yes/no contract on Bass and on Raman, where an app lists the race.
• Margin markets, if listed.

Local races can move fast on thin trading. Prices change every day, so we don't type them here. Check the live price in each app before you trade.

Key dates for Venice voters

Where Angelenos can trade the race

• Polymarket US (opens in a new tab): election markets in US dollars.
• Kalshi (opens in a new tab): a CFTC-regulated exchange with US election markets.

These apps are available to eligible California residents (status re-checked 16 October 2026). The platforms' minimum age is 18; we recommend 21+. Trading involves risk; you can lose what you put in.

How an LA mayor contract settles

A "Yes" contract pays $1 if its named candidate is the official winner and $0 if not. Los Angeles County counts mail ballots for days after 3 November, and a close race can take weeks to certify, so read each market's settlement rule first. Our full guide to the race and its settlement rules is here: LA mayor race 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Who is in the 2026 Los Angeles mayor runoff?

Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman, the top two from the 2 June primary.

What did the latest poll show?

UC Berkeley IGS for the LA Times (15 to 20 September 2026) had Raman at 39% and Bass at 28% among likely voters, with 33% undecided.

When will we know who won?

Early returns come on election night, but LA County counts mail ballots that arrive up to 7 days later, so a close race may not be called for days.