How Simple Mix-up Fueled False Conspiracies About LA Votes

Sunday, June 07, 2026

Since election night in California, a single theory of election fraud has taken root like no other among online conspiracy theorists, bot accounts, conservative influencers and people close to President Trump. It proved to be a simple misreading of the voting data.

Posted by LampLighter at 09:30 PM | 53 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

There is a lot of misinformation floating around about California's election -- including from the President. This explainer is worth a watch. And yes, for the record: we wish the votes were counted faster, too. : @elexmichaelson.bsky.social

[image or embed]
-- Governor Newsom Press Office (@govpressoffice.gov.ca.gov) 3:11 PM Â· Jun 4, 2026

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More from the article ...

... Late on election night, an update of vote counts in the Los Angeles mayor's race appeared on election results pages of various media outlets including the Los Angeles Times. It showed leading Democrats Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman receiving tens of thousands of new votes, and leading Republican former reality TV star Spencer Pratt receiving no new votes.

Some observers of the vote tally immediately took screenshots, with some shouting fraud. Others ran statistical analyses that showed it would be impossible for a candidate such as Pratt -- running second in the race -- to receive zero votes in such a large batch of ballots.

In fact, the update that showed zero Pratt votes was followed one minute later by another update that showed tens of thousands of votes for Pratt, and none for Bass or Raman.

There was no batch of votes that included zero votes for any candidate, as Los Angeles County's own data show plainly. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-06-06 07:42 PM | Reply

So ... the MAGA conspirators seem to have charged forth based upon incomplete information?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-06-06 10:48 PM | Reply

LOL

What I find interesting is Nithya conceded ...... then comes in 2nd place < 1%.

And the kicker is Bass hardly moved.

LOL California elections are rigged. Just rigged.

Notice I didn't say illegal, or fraudulent, just rigged.

Did you know you can submit ballots 7 days after the "election" by using a "drop box" and it doesn't need to be dated?? Whats so funny is there was one right out side the Morgan Hill library all week AFTER the election was supposedly "over".

But its all LEGAL ... the thing is built to WIN by the party in charge. Chinese news is having afield day with this election, and all the BS excuses that it was legit.

Everyone knows its ---------.

#3 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-06-07 12:45 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

LOL California elections are rigged. Just rigged.

CSAMRUNT sounds just like his child-raping hero.

#4 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-06-07 03:15 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Did you know you can submit ballots 7 days after the "election" by using a "drop box" and it doesn't need to be dated?

Well. That's a lie. Why do you lie so much?

"Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by your county election office within seven days after the election to be counted."

calvoter.org

#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-06-07 03:26 PM | Reply

Everyone knows its ---------.
#3 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

Better start taking your ivermectin.

#6 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-06-07 03:28 PM | Reply

Kalshi and Polymarket sponsor posts promoting LA
election fraud claims.

Kalshi and Polymarket paid to boost social media posts from users promoting viral claims of fraud in the Los Angeles mayoral election.

www.npr.org

#7 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-06-07 06:26 PM | Reply

How is BillJohnson not commenting on this?
I don't get it.

#8 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-06-07 09:39 PM | Reply

How is BillJohnson not commenting on this?

He has departed the site.

#9 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-06-07 09:40 PM | Reply

He has departed the site.
#9 | Posted by REDIAL

NoooooooooOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!
-Darth Vader

#10 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-06-07 09:55 PM | Reply

NoooooooooOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo!

Steady, citizen. We can get through this.

#11 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-06-07 10:09 PM | Reply

What happened to Censored?

I notice he's not around either.

No loss.

#12 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-06-07 10:27 PM | Reply

What happened to Censored?

duck://player/J5k8ZQsZJpk

#13 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-06-07 10:40 PM | Reply

Is Mr. Friend a Censored Sockpuppet?

They seem kinda similar to me.

Hasbara,and Supremacist, but not at the same time.

They both love AIPAC Democrats that's for Damn sure.

#14 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-06-07 11:03 PM | Reply

Just in, Biden wins LA mayor primary with 81 million votes!

#15 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-06-08 12:07 AM | Reply

Not citing our sources?

"After Mail-In Ballots Tallied, Joe Biden Wins L.A. Mayor Race With 81 Million Votes"

babylonbee.com

#16 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-06-08 12:09 AM | Reply | Funny: 2

Spencer Pratt Drops To 3rd Place

www.nbclosangeles.com

Womp Womp, Runt.

#17 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-06-08 12:36 AM | Reply

Maybe it's rigged, maybe it isn't. It sure as hell looks like it and that's why the conspiracy theories come about.

#18 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-06-08 12:08 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

You're a ------- idiot.

#19 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-06-08 01:16 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Now explain how 2020 was the most free and fair election ever. 81 Million votes LOL.

#20 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-06-08 01:39 PM | Reply

#3 | Posted by oneironaut

Cool story.

Feel free to leave, s*&^heap.

#21 | Posted by jpw at 2026-06-08 02:12 PM | Reply

Maybe it's rigged, maybe it isn't. It sure as hell looks like it.
#18 | Posted by BellRinger

What specifically are you referring to?
You. Sound. Just. Like. Your. Daddy.

#22 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-06-08 02:30 PM | Reply

Maybe it's rigged, maybe it isn't. It

I'll save you some time.

It isn't.

Los Angeles has paper ballots and is very openly transparent about its count.

L.A. mayoral race voter fraud claim gets debunked " by Trump's Justice Department

www.democracydocket.com

If you don't like the source. Several other outlets are reporting on it.

Most of Spencer Pratt's supporters didn't live in Los Angeles. They simply flooded social media with their support.

Which, who cares. Their options are worthless.

#23 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-06-08 10:44 PM | Reply

" Los Angeles has paper ballots and is very openly transparent about its count."

Okay. My understanding is the count is not what is driving the controversy. It's that the late counted ballots skewed so heavily for the candidate who conceded on Election Day to move her to second place that the ballots themselves have the appearance of being fraudulent.

#24 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-06-08 11:55 PM | Reply

Patricide Jeff, are you filth-smearing vermin going to kill some more cops because you lost another election?

#25 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-06-08 11:57 PM | Reply

JeffJ and BillJohnson cast illegal ballots for Spencer Pratt, in that district where he got zero votes.

That's how they know it's rigged. There should have been at least two, if our elections are honest.

#26 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-06-09 12:03 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

It's that the late counted ballots skewed so heavily for the candidate who conceded on Election Day

Fun fact, this is misinformation being spread and promoted on social media.

There's a very concentrated effort by certain groups to promote false information.

She never conceded. She thanked all the people who voted for her. Which social media turned into her concession speech.

The Trump administration nothing but deceitful.

#27 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-06-09 12:18 AM | Reply

"for the candidate who conceded"

Republicans are trained to know when women concede to men, and it's permanent and irrevocable, and never rape.

#28 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-06-09 12:21 AM | Reply

Nothing simple about Blue States and their cities when it comes to votes....

Dems: i.imgur.com

#29 | Posted by MSgt at 2026-06-09 09:55 AM | Reply

Los Angeles is a big city, but it's not that big. Entire countries have elections and counted votes much faster than this. If you don't want the possibility of looking fraudulent, have a better system since there are obviously better ways to do it than this.

#30 | Posted by kwrx25 at 2026-06-09 11:16 AM | Reply

#30 | POSTED BY KWRX25

Don't you worry, we're going to change the way we tabulate election results just for you and the rest of the idiot MAGAts who thought a republican had a chance of winning an election in Los Angeles.

#31 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-06-09 11:20 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

have a better system since there are obviously better ways to do it than this.
#30 | Posted by kwrx25

Like Florida in 2000?

#32 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-06-09 11:21 AM | Reply

"simple mix up"

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

#33 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-06-09 11:38 AM | Reply

who thought a republican had a chance of winning an election in Los Angeles.

#31 | Posted by ClownShack

NOT ME...I know how californians / los angelinos love to have half naked junkies shooting up

around elementary schools....people crapping all over the sidewalk....homes burned to the ground

and year and a half later people still can't get permits to build...and all the other asinine

leftist malarkey.

--sounds like a whole city of clownshacks.

#34 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-06-09 11:44 AM | Reply

"-sounds like a whole city of clownshacks."

holy crap...what would that city be called ?

LOL

#35 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-06-09 11:47 AM | Reply

"simple mix up",...........AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAA

#36 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-06-09 11:48 AM | Reply

#32

Excellent point Snoofy, especially when combined with Clown's insightful #31.

jamesmadison.org

repository.law.uic.edu

reason.com

It's almost like it's possible to realize that it's possible to recognize short comings and enact change instead of just doubling down on stupidity because it's "your team" doing it.

Thanks for bringing this up, I like it when others can make my point for me.

#37 | Posted by kwrx25 at 2026-06-09 12:11 PM | Reply

"simple mix up"

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

#33 | Posted by shrimptacodan

lol,lmao

#38 | Posted by john_savage2 at 2026-06-09 12:18 PM | Reply

holy crap...what would that city be called ?

Memphis?

#39 | Posted by john_savage2 at 2026-06-09 12:19 PM | Reply

OneIQIronyCCP criticizing California elections.
That's not disingenuous AT ALL!

Nah, Chinese media is instead putting up their videos all over Wechat promoting dissention among the EU, Britain, Canada, and the USA. Pitting whites against immigrants. Same as they do every other day.

#40 | Posted by e1g1 at 2026-06-09 12:20 PM | Reply

In my home in Wisconsin I just printed a valid LA ballot. It is the ballot for the current election that happened weeks ago. I didn't lie or break any laws. They just let me download and print a current ballot.

#41 | Posted by visitor_ at 2026-06-09 12:33 PM | Reply

Imagine LA told pollsters cost of living was the #1 issue, and then voted to increase sales tax, not on billionaires, but on themselves.

BuT ItS NoT FrAud

#40 | POSTED BY E1G1
I see you have no argument.

#42 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-06-09 12:37 PM | Reply

They just let me download and print a current ballot.

#41 | POSTED BY VISITOR_

Isn't that special? Vistard can use the internets!

Now. Go ahead and try and vote with it.

...

My understanding is the count is not what is driving the controversy.

My understanding is that it's Trumpy's hateful lies and nutty conspiracy theories that is driving the "controversy ".

And maga moronic useful tools like you.

#43 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-06-09 12:39 PM | Reply

who thought a republican had a chance of winning an election in Los Angeles.
#31 | Posted by ClownShack

I see someone got their talking point emails.

It wasn't about winning, no one that Platt would win, its that he would expose the rot in LA, which he was doing.

Now the rot in LA will be swept under the rug, and the debate will be about bikelanes and BBQs.

#44 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-06-09 12:39 PM | Reply

LOL California elections are rigged. Just rigged.

Notice I didn't say illegal, or fraudulent, just rigged.

But its all LEGAL ... the thing is built to WIN by the party in charge. Chinese news is having afield day with this election, and all the BS excuses that it was legit.

Everyone knows its ---------.

#3 | Posted by oneironaut

Oh look mr "I'm not maga" pops up to parrot his maga propaganda as usual.

Allowing people to vote by mail is not rigging stupid.

Republicans are so anti democracy that for them, if people get to vote then its RIGGED!

#45 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-06-09 12:40 PM | Reply

It wasn't about winning, no one that Platt would win, its that he would expose the rot in LA, which he was doing.

Now the rot in LA will be swept under the rug, and the debate will be about bikelanes and BBQs.

#44 | Posted by oneironaut

If you cared at all about rot and corruption you wouldnt be maga.

#46 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-06-09 12:41 PM | Reply

Now the rot in LA will be swept under the rug

#44 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

I always wonder how MAGA manages not to choke to death on their own hypocrisy.

#47 | Posted by Zed at 2026-06-09 12:41 PM | Reply

#41 | Posted by visitor_

You should send it in and see what happens.

Hope you're willing to risk prison time.

Now how many people do you think are willing to risk prison time in order to change an election by ONE VOTE?

#48 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-06-09 12:42 PM | Reply

My understanding is the count is not what is driving the controversy.

Thats because you don't understand shit.

My understanding is that it's Trumpy's hateful lies and nutty conspiracy theories that is driving the "controversy ".

Thats because Trump is rotting your brain. You got any facts NO you just lie around blaming someone you've had a hardon for for a decade.

This is why people know there's fraud in the system. if you can read this graph and honestly think the system isn't fraught with fraud, you're too stupid to vote.
x.com

#49 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-06-09 12:45 PM | Reply

This is why people know there's fraud in the system.

49 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

Where's the logic in committing fraud in an election you know you will win anyway?

#50 | Posted by Zed at 2026-06-09 12:48 PM | Reply

"Where's the logic in committing fraud in an election you know you will win anyway?"

Yes, that's right, The question is directed at you.

#51 | Posted by Zed at 2026-06-09 12:50 PM | Reply

| POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

Not to put too fine a point on it, but...

Given how loathed Trump/MAGA is at this moment, where's the logic in expecting ANY Trump/MAGA candidate would win, even in many red states, much less freaking California?

As an aside, when you really eff up on this forum, do your handlers dock your pay?

#52 | Posted by Zed at 2026-06-09 12:58 PM | Reply

Thanks for bringing this up, I like it when others can make my point for me.
#37 | Posted by kwrx25

I'm glad you agree that Florida 2000 had "the possibility of looking fraudulent."

#53 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-06-09 01:09 PM | Reply