Days before Los Angeles’s June 2 mayoral primary, City Councilmember Nithya Raman reportedly pulled out of a scheduled KTLA television interview at the last minute, telling producers she had bitten her tongue and could not go on air. The cancellation landed in the middle of a frantic final week of campaigning as the three leading contenders scramble for an edge.
The latest UC Berkeley–Los Angeles Times poll shows Mayor Karen Bass at 26%, Raman at 25% and former reality star Spencer Pratt at 22% among likely voters, leaving the top three within the poll’s margin of error, according to the Los Angeles Times. Poll director Mark DiCamillo told the paper, "It's going to boil down to turnout," stressing how fragile late shifts can be in the final days.
What KTLA and the New York Post Reported
The New York Post reported that KTLA said Raman’s team backed out late in the afternoon, saying she had bitten her tongue and could not appear, and that KTLA had invited Mayor Karen Bass to join the program but was unable to secure her participation, according to the New York Post. The Post said it reached out to Raman for comment and did not hear back.
Why It Matters
Raman’s late withdrawals have already reshaped the campaign calendar, with organizers canceling a televised forum earlier this month after leading candidates pulled out, as reported by TheWrap. Local coverage has also tracked tense neighborhood encounters for Raman on the stump, including a Sherman Oaks homeowners meeting where she faced boos over encampment comments.
With the UC Berkeley–L.A. Times numbers putting the top three candidates within a few percentage points of one another, analysts say missed interviews and last-minute scheduling changes can matter more than usual in a low-turnout primary. Campaign messaging, earned media and grassroots ground games in the days leading up to next Tuesday’s vote are likely to decide which two candidates advance to November.
At the time of the reports, the "bitten tongue" explanation appeared only in tabloid coverage, and major outlets reporting on debate cancellations and the shifting polls had not independently corroborated a medical problem. The New York Post’s reporting, which it says included an inquiry to Raman’s campaign that went unanswered, remains the primary source for the specific excuse. This story will be updated if Raman’s campaign or KTLA issues a public statement clarifying the cancellation.
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