The short version
- Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass with approximately 52 percent of the vote, ending Bass's tenure and her unbroken record of electoral victories.
- Raman’s victory positions Los Angeles as one of the few major U.S. cities led by a democratic socialist, joining New York City and Washington D.C. in this political alignment.
- The win reflects widespread frustration with housing costs, homelessness, and city governance, despite Raman facing opposition from most fellow council members and establishment Democrats.
Nithya Raman has been elected mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Karen Bass in a closely contested race that signals a significant shift in the city’s political landscape. Final returns indicated Raman secured just over 52 percent of the vote compared to Bass’s 48 percent. The result marks the first time Bass has lost an election and underscores growing voter dissatisfaction with the direction of the nation’s second-largest city. Raman, a city council member since 2020, entered the race as an outsider who had previously endorsed Bass, making her eventual victory a notable upset in local politics.
The election outcome places Los Angeles alongside New York City and Washington D.C. as major metropolitan areas led by mayors identified with democratic socialism. While comparisons have been drawn between Raman and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, their political profiles differ significantly. Raman’s relationship with the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has been complex; although she joined the organization in 2019 primarily to engage with housing affordability issues, her mayoral campaign received DSA endorsement only after internal debates regarding her stance on broader movement priorities. National DSA leaders briefly considered rescinding support before a vote on the matter failed.
Raman’s political rise began in 2020 when she unseated an establishment Democrat for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, ending a 17-year streak of incumbent retention. Her campaign relied heavily on grassroots organizing, including door-knocking efforts that reached tens of thousands of households and mobilized thousands of volunteers. This approach earned her endorsements from figures such as Bernie Sanders and positioned her as a candidate capable of challenging the political status quo. Her victory in the mayoral race continues this trajectory, appealing to voters frustrated with traditional Democratic leadership structures.
Central to Raman’s platform is housing policy, reflecting her background as an urban planner. She advocates for tripling annual housing construction in Los Angeles, supporting a mix of deed-restricted affordable units, market-rate developments, social housing, and shelters. This strategy has garnered support from pro-development advocacy groups like Yimby Action, which argue that increasing supply is the most effective way to address affordability. Raman’s focus on housing stems from her earlier work co-founding the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition in 2017, an organization dedicated to supporting unhoused individuals in northeast Los Angeles through volunteer outreach and advocacy.
Despite her progressive credentials, Raman faced significant opposition from within the city’s political establishment. Most of her fellow city council members, including other democratic socialists elected after her, endorsed Bass. During debates, Bass highlighted Raman’s strained relationships with colleagues, suggesting difficulties in collaborative governance. However, this lack of institutional support appeared to resonate with voters seeking change. Analysts noted that Angelenos were eager for an outsider who could challenge the entrenched political class, particularly given Bass’s low approval ratings, which had dipped to levels comparable to those of former President Donald Trump.
The campaign unfolded against a backdrop of severe challenges facing Los Angeles, including rising costs, homelessness, and a substantial budget shortfall. The city also grappled with the aftermath of wildfires and broader regional impacts from federal deportation policies. Raman positioned herself as a candidate capable of addressing these issues with urgency and honesty, promising to lower rents and improve public safety. Her message resonated with constituents who felt neglected by current leadership, including teachers and residents in South Central Los Angeles who cited housing instability as a primary concern.
Raman’s path to the general election was not without obstacles. She narrowly defeated Spencer Pratt, a former reality television star and registered Republican, in the primary. Pratt’s campaign gained traction through viral advertisements criticizing city officials’ handling of recent fires and recovery efforts. Although Raman struggled initially against key liberal bases and unions aligned with Bass, she gained momentum over the summer, bolstered by DSA volunteer networks. Her ability to broaden her appeal beyond traditional progressive strongholds contributed to her narrow victory.
Celebrations following the election highlighted the demographic shifts driving Raman’s success. Supporters noted that young voters played a crucial role in closing the gap, with ballots from this group helping secure her lead. The absence of many establishment figures at Raman’s election night events underscored the divide between the new mayor and the traditional political elite. As Raman prepares to take office, she faces the task of implementing her housing agenda while navigating a city council that largely opposed her candidacy. Her administration will need to balance grassroots expectations with the practical demands of governing a complex urban environment.
The implications of Raman’s victory extend beyond Los Angeles, reflecting broader trends in American politics where anti-establishment sentiment is reshaping local leadership. Voters’ rejection of Bass suggests a desire for fresh approaches to longstanding issues such as homelessness and affordability. While challenges remain, including budget constraints and ongoing social unrest, Raman’s election offers a glimpse into the evolving priorities of urban voters. Her tenure will likely be defined by efforts to expand housing supply and address inequality, testing whether progressive policies can deliver tangible results in one of the country’s most diverse cities.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Who is Nithya Raman, the democratic socialist who will be Los Angeles’s next mayor?
- The Guardian World↗Democratic socialist Nithya Raman wins Los Angeles mayoral race over incumbent Karen Bass
