President Donald Trump is describing the Los Angeles mayoral primary election as “crooked” and “rigged” after two Republican candidates failed to secure a spot in the general election.
The president also predicted “great trouble and consternation will follow” if Democrats win.
“Has anybody been watching the CROOKED Election going on in California,” Trump wrote Sunday night on Truth Social. “Two great Republican Candidates are being cheated, and so is America, which if the Dumocrats are able to fulfill their mission, great trouble and consternation will follow. Watch this ‘Election’ closely!!!”
Trump reiterated that sentiment Monday morning Monday morning when he reposted an item from X by Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.).
“It’s clear, California is incapable of running free and fair elections consistent with our Constitution that guarantees a republican form of government for states. Federalize the election,” Hamadeh wrote.
Hamadeh reposted a Decision Desk HQ projection that had Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman securing the second runoff spot in the nonpartisan mayoral primary.
“No way this could have happened. Rigged Election!” Trump added on Truth Social.
Newsmax projected Raman clinched a place in the November runoff against incumbent Democrat Mayor Karen Bass.
Bass is ahead with about 35% of the vote; Raman has a narrow lead over Republican candidate Spencer Pratt.
Pratt, a conservative and former reality TV star, held steady in second place for days after the election. But Raman gradually overtook him as additional more ballots were counted.
Many Republicans, including Trump, have criticized California’s vote-counting process.
They have questioned why late-counted ballots continue to alter race outcomes.
Under California law, mail ballots postmarked by Election Day can be counted if they arrive at election offices within seven days, Newsmax reported.
Election officials say the lengthy process occurs because every registered voter receives a mail ballot.
The Associated Press reported Democrats tended to return ballots later. Analysts say may explain why Bass and Raman gained more votes.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles announced Friday it opened multiple election-fraud investigations related to California elections.
It assigned a federal prosecutor to observe operations at the county vote-counting center.
County officials must certify final results by early July. This leaves thousands of ballots still to be counted.
