Los Angeles, California — A fresh batch of approximately 24,000 mail-in ballots in the Los Angeles mayoral primary has ignited heated debate after Republican candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt received zero votes in the update, while Democratic candidates gained significantly.

The latest tally, released as part of ongoing vote counting following the June 2 primary, showed incumbent Mayor Karen Bass maintaining her lead, with City Councilmember Nithya Raman continuing to close the gap on Pratt for the second runoff spot. In this specific drop, Pratt netted no additional support, fueling online accusations of irregularities.

Pratt, who had been leading Raman for the No. 2 position on election night with strong early returns, has seen his advantage narrow as more mail ballots — which tend to favor Democratic candidates — are tabulated. As of the most recent counts, Bass holds a solid lead, while the battle between Pratt and Raman remains tight with hundreds of thousands of ballots still to be processed.

Election officials and fact-checkers have pushed back against fraud claims, attributing the zero-vote batch to normal variations in how data is reported and the demographics of late mail-in voters rather than any wrongdoing. One analysis noted a near-simultaneous data update that showed the opposite pattern, highlighting temporary reporting quirks in the system.

Pratt’s campaign has leaned into frustration over issues like homelessness, crime, and the Palisades Fire, attracting attention as a political newcomer. The reality star has remained a vocal figure throughout the count.

With the primary still unresolved for the second runoff position, officials expect final certification in early July. The top two finishers will face off in the November general election.

This development underscores the intense scrutiny surrounding California’s extended vote-counting process for mail ballots.