TRUMP CLAIMS CALIFORNIA MAYORAL RACE IS RIGGED WITHOUT EVIDENCE

Donald Trump has claimed the Los Angeles mayoral race is "crooked" and that Republican candidates in California are "being cheated." He made the claims on his Truth Social platform on Sunday without providing any evidence. Trump wrote: "Has anybody been watching the CROOKED Election going on in California." In a separate post, he stated it was "not possible for Spencer Pratt to have lost the L.A. runoffs after the big lead he had," calling the count a "3rd World Nation" result and the election "Rigged."

With 87 per cent of votes counted, incumbent Democrat Karen Bass holds 34.68 per cent of the vote, fellow Democrat Nithya Raman holds 27.12 per cent, and Republican Spencer Pratt, a former reality television personality, holds 26.69 per cent. California operates an open primary system in which all candidates appear on the same ballot and the top two finishers advance to a run-off, regardless of party affiliation. Pratt posted on social media Sunday insisting he remained in the lead and that counting would continue until 6 July. He previously called for "patience" from supporters as the count continued.

Bass, the first Black woman to lead Los Angeles, is seeking a second term as mayor. Trump also complained last week, without evidence, that Republicans were being denied victory in California's gubernatorial race, prematurely congratulating Republican candidate Steve Hilton before vote counting was finalised. The Los Angeles mayoral run-off is projected to be contested between Bass and Raman in November if current figures hold. Counting in both races continues.