Nithya Raman defeats Karen Bass in Los Angeles mayoral election

Nithya Raman, a 45-year-old City Council member and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race, according to projections from NBC News and the Associated Press.

Election Results and Candidates

The Associated Press reported that Raman led with just over 52% of the votes to Bass’s 48%. Raman, a former urban planner and activist, previously served on the Los Angeles City Council starting in 2020. She entered the race earlier this year shortly after endorsing Bass for re-election.

Bass, a former six-term congresswoman, had never before lost an election. Following the results, Bass stated, “While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken,” and noted she has committed to ensuring a "smooth and seamless transition."

The race was a runoff between Raman, Bass, and Spencer Pratt, a former reality television star and registered Republican. Pratt had run a campaign critical of the political establishment after losing his home in a January 2025 wildfire.

Campaign Issues and Policy Differences

Raman campaigned on a platform of lowering rents, improving city streets, reducing homelessness, and increasing safety. She accused Bass of mismanaging the city's homelessness problem and rising housing prices, characterizing City Hall as having "a reluctance to move forward with the transformative policy change that this city needs right now."

Bass argued that Raman was "not ready for primetime" after six years on the City Council. The election occurred amid several challenges for the city, including a significant budget shortfall, rising costs, and the impact of the Trump administration's deportation campaign.

The candidates also held differing views on international issues. At a September forum, Raman stated she agreed with influencer Hasan Piker that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians; Bass rejected that label.

Future Outlook

As mayor-elect, Raman's agenda is expected to be influenced by the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The event is expected to impact the city's infrastructure, public transportation, and security systems.

With Raman's victory, three major U.S. cities will be led by democratic socialists: Los Angeles, New York City under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Washington, D.C. under Mayor Janeese Lewis George.

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Sources

• nbcnews.com: Democratic socialist Nithya Raman pulls off upset in Los Angeles mayor race, defeating Karen Bass
• theguardian.com: Democratic socialist Nithya Raman wins Los Angeles mayoral race over incumbent Karen Bass | US midterm elections 2026 | The Guardian

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.