Days after California’s June 2 primary election, a dramatic twist in the Los Angeles mayoral race sparked intense scrutiny and growing calls for answers. The controversy centers on a surge of mail-in ballots reportedly originating from the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, ballots that heavily favored District 4 City Councilwoman and Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Nithya Raman.
Before the late-counted ballots were added to the tally, viral candidate Spencer Pratt appeared positioned to secure a coveted Top 2 finish and advance to the general election. As additional votes were processed, however, Raman moved ahead of Pratt, pushing him into third place and effectively ending his campaign. The sudden shift immediately fueled questions among many voters, particularly Pratt supporters, who argued that the results deserved closer examination.
As @BoredElonMusk & the data show, Raman’s late mail in ballot surge was fueled in large part by ballots from Skid Row.
Tens of thousands of homeless whose ballots are sent to central addresses (not the sidewalk) & can be filled out/returned by someone else.
Suspicious… https://t.co/Ch3yVr26WZ pic.twitter.com/lnHXDnQiFq
— Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) June 7, 2026
Those concerns intensified after reports surfaced alleging that homeless residents in Skid Row had been approached and offered money in exchange for participating in voter registration activities. According to reporting by the California Post, several individuals living in the area claimed they were paid to sign registration forms, provide voter information, and, in some cases, participate in activities that investigators are now reportedly examining.
On Thursday morning, the story took another significant turn. Federal agents from multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, were observed conducting interviews throughout Skid Row. Witnesses described plainclothes officers moving through encampments, speaking with residents, taking notes, and gathering information. The Department of Justice confirmed that federal agents were investigating a criminal matter but declined to provide additional details. The FBI likewise declined to comment on any ongoing investigation.
One woman living on LA’s Skid Row said people were paid to fill out and sign voter registration forms. When asked how many ballots she would sign at once, she responded: “Four or five. It depends.” https://t.co/PxiizoYOPd pic.twitter.com/qJRfTvDL0H
— California Post (@californiapost) June 13, 2026
The federal activity follows the May indictment of Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong, a professional signature gatherer accused of paying individuals, including homeless residents, to register to vote. Federal officials have characterized such conduct as a threat to election integrity.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon addressed the broader issue in a statement accompanying the indictment. She said that false registrations undermine public confidence in elections, particularly when financial incentives are involved, and emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to ensuring fair and lawful elections.
HOT FLASH🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
About 20 agents swooped in on Skid Row after homeless people living there claimed they’d been paid cash to sign multiple registration forms, forge signatures and fill out voter information.
Federal officers descended on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles… pic.twitter.com/stcsBOZR9r— Mike Netter (@nettermike) June 18, 2026
At this stage, investigators have not publicly announced any findings connecting the allegations directly to the mayoral race results. Nevertheless, the federal presence on Skid Row signals that authorities are taking the claims seriously enough to warrant further examination.
