Nithya Raman unseats incumbent Karen Bass in Los Angeles mayoral race

Nov 5, 10:57 PM2 min readCovered by 3 outlets

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Progressive challenger Nithya Raman defeats Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race, marking a significant shift for the nation's second-largest city.

City Council member and democratic socialist Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Karen Bass on Thursday to become the next mayor of Los Angeles.

NBC News and CBS News projected Raman’s victory following a general election that saw significant Democratic gains across the country. Bass conceded the race on Thursday morning, stating she had called Raman to congratulate her and commit to a seamless transition. The win makes Los Angeles the third major U.S. city to elect a democratic socialist mayor this week, following similar results in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Raman, a 45-year-old former urban planner, criticized Bass’s leadership regarding the city's homelessness crisis and rising housing costs. NBC News reported that Bass faced scrutiny over her absence during the destructive January 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfire, which occurred while she was attending an inauguration in Ghana. Raman characterized the city's current administration as a "broken status quo" and called for transformative policy changes.

The Guardian noted that Raman maintained strong ties with Hollywood progressives, receiving endorsements from younger celebrities such as Mindy Kaling and Adam Scott. In contrast, Bass was supported by older figures including Jane Fonda and Samuel L. Jackson. Though Raman is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, she has emphasized her independence from the organization's local chapter during the campaign.

The two candidates also diverged on international issues, specifically the war in Gaza. During a September forum, Raman agreed with the characterization of Israel's actions as genocide, a term Bass rejected. Raman now prepares to lead the city as it heads toward hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics, a task expected to test the city's infrastructure and security.

Background

Raman first entered Los Angeles politics in 2020 by ousting a sitting city council member for the first time in 17 years. She originally endorsed Bass for reelection in early 2026 before launching her own surprise bid in February and advancing past third-place candidate Spencer Pratt in the June primary.