Trump warns – President Donald Trump declared California’s vote counts “Rigged” in response to Spencer Pratt’s slipping standing in the Los Angeles mayoral race, then warned Democrats may try to interfere with Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton next.
President Donald Trump made his case in a single, furious swipe—first at the Los Angeles runoff, then at what he expects to come for Steve Hilton.
In a Truth Social post on Monday. Trump said it was “not possible” for Spencer Pratt (R) to have lost his runner-up status in Los Angeles’ mayoral race legitimately. arguing the long process of counting ballots amounts to something like a sham. He wrote that California’s elections resemble a “3rd World Nation” where the ballot counting is clearly “Rigged.”.
Trump then pivoted to Hilton, the Republican gubernatorial candidate he backed earlier this year, warning that Democrats are “now” working to “screw” Hilton next. In the same post, Trump claimed officials may not produce results for “possibly, TWO WEEKS.”
“Not possible for Spencer Pratt to have lost the L.A. runoffs after the big lead he had. 3rd World Nation. Rigged Elections! Now they’ll be working on great guy Steve Hilton. Won’t have results for, possibly, TWO WEEKS, according to officials. President DJT,” Trump wrote.
The White House chief wasn’t saying this in a vacuum. The day before Trump’s post, Pratt’s lead appeared to have slipped as additional ballots were counted on Sunday night.
After the latest batch of votes, Democratic socialist and Los Angeles city council member Nithya Raman (D) jumped ahead of Pratt, helping her erase a 40,000 vote edge Pratt held after Election Night last week. The shift was sharp enough to change the tone around Pratt’s campaign.
It had looked. at least at first. as though Pratt—whose campaign highlighted what he called the “limp response” from Mayor Karen Bass (D) to the wildfires that burned down his home and 12. 000 others in early 2025—was poised to finish in the top two after Election Night. The party atmosphere at Pratt HQ was described as lively, with “margaritas… flowing.”.
Raman, too, appeared to feel the narrowing odds even before the later ballots began to land. She teared up while addressing supporters, even though the optimism that followed Election Night faded as more counts came in. Those late-arriving ballots have largely favored Raman, officials’ timing and pace now becoming the battleground.
Decision Desk HQ projected Raman will advance in the race and face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass (D) in November.
Trump’s warning wasn’t only about Los Angeles. He tied the dispute directly to what might happen next in California statewide politics, where Hilton is waiting to see whether he can hold his position.
In the California gubernatorial race, Hilton is in second place. He has received 25.9% of the votes, while Tom Steyer (D) is in third with 21.5% of the votes so far. By Monday afternoon, California has counted 72% of its votes, according to The New York Times.
Trump previously gave Hilton what he called a “COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT” in April. If Hilton remains in second place, he would advance to face former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) in the November general election.
But there is still a ways to go before voters get a settled answer on either race. California’s elections routinely take weeks to finalize. That pace has drawn criticism far beyond Trump’s complaints.
Journalist Nate Silver said last week that the long wait is “failed state sh*t.”
For now, Trump’s message is built around the same timeline he criticized—ballot counting that stretches past what many voters expect, and the political fallout that follows when early leads don’t hold.
Donald Trump Spencer Pratt Nithya Raman Karen Bass Steve Hilton California gubernatorial race Los Angeles mayoral runoff Truth Social rigged elections Nate Silver Decision Desk HQ Xavier Becerra Tom Steyer
Rigged elections, sure. Sounds about right.
I don’t even know who Spencer Pratt is but Trump always yelling rigged when votes get counted. Two weeks though? Like they’re just hiding the numbers or what.
Wait so Nithya Raman jumped ahead after they counted more ballots and then Trump blames it on Democrats “screwing” Hilton next? That seems like he’s predicting stuff before it happens. Also “3rd world nation” is just weird to say, like California is part of that??
Tbh I don’t trust any of it. If they say results in two weeks that’s always suspicious, and Trump saying “not possible” like he knows the tally makes me roll my eyes. Spencer Pratt losing after a lead could be legit, but they all act like the other side is doing crimes with the ballots. Next thing you know they’ll blame it on mail trucks or something.