Nithya Raman wins Los Angeles mayor race, defeating Karen Bass
A progressive city councilmember has unseated the incumbent after a narrow count, as Los Angeles faces homelessness, housing costs and a large budget shortfall.
Key points
- Nithya Raman was called the winner by the Associated Press on Thursday.
- Early counts put Raman just above 52%, with Karen Bass on 48%.
- Raman had the backing of the local DSA branch in Los Angeles.
- Bass had not lost an election before, the Guardian noted.
- Both candidates are progressives, and the race was a bitter contest between generations.
Nithya Raman has been named the winner of the Los Angeles mayoral contest, ousting the sitting mayor, Karen Bass, according to The Guardian. The Associated Press made the call on Thursday. Early counts gave Raman just over 52% of the vote, compared with 48% for Bass.
Raman works as an urban planner and has sat on the Los Angeles city council since 2020. Her candidacy looked like a long shot at first. She joined the field this year at the last possible moment, shortly after publicly backing Bass for a second term.
Her poll numbers rose over the summer, and commentators often drew parallels with Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City.
The result arrived on a night when Democrats took control of both the House and the Senate across the country. Voters were widely seen as turning against Donald Trump and his party. The Los Angeles race was different. Raman and Bass both belong to the progressive camp, and the contest became a sharp dispute between two age groups within the party.
A bruising campaign and a gracious result
During the campaign, the two women exchanged pointed criticism over how each had handled the city’s problems. After the result, Raman spoke warmly of her opponent, calling her someone who had devoted decades to Los Angeles. Bass said the city’s voters had made their choice and that she had phoned Raman to offer congratulations.
Bass had never lost an election before. Her approval ratings were low, roughly on a par with Trump’s, according to the Guardian. Many residents were unhappy with conditions in the city, and a wave of anti-establishment feeling has affected US politics more widely.
Bass promised a smooth handover of power. Raman said she intended to govern with candour and a sense of urgency.
Problems the new mayor inherits
Los Angeles faces homelessness, rising living costs and a shortage of affordable housing. Raman has pledged to lower rents, improve roads, cut homelessness and make the city safer. The Guardian also reported that the federal deportation drive has hit the region hard, Hollywood is in difficulty, and the city has a large budget gap.
The primary was shaped by Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV personality who is registered as a Republican. Pratt had lost his house in the Palisades blaze and ran a noisy, widely shared campaign attacking both Bass and Raman. He claimed the mayor had mismanaged the city and that officials had failed to prepare for the fire and were slow to help with recovery. Raman edged him out in the primary round.
Grassroots backing and local voters
The local branch of the DSA gave Raman a major advantage, with its members knocking on doors across the city on her behalf. She had belonged to the group for many years. Shortly before the vote, national DSA leaders discussed withdrawing that backing until Raman clarified her stance on the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, but the motion did not pass.
Supporters gathered outside the Greek Theatre on Tuesday evening to cheer Raman. Max Rico, an educator from South Central Los Angeles, said he hoped she would gain ground as ballots from younger voters were counted. He had voted for Bass earlier but felt let down by her record, and he said Raman’s affordable housing plans mattered most to him.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Los Angeles mayoral race?
Nithya Raman won, according to the Associated Press, which called the race on Thursday. Early counts showed her with just over 52% of the vote to Karen Bassu0026#039;s 48%.
Who is Nithya Raman?
Raman works as an urban planner and has been on the Los Angeles city council since 2020. She is a longtime member of the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
What challenges does Los Angeles face?
The city faces homelessness, rising costs, housing affordability problems and a large budget shortfall. The Guardian also reported that the Trump administrationu0026#039;s deportation campaign has hit the region hard.
Sources
- The Guardian: Democratic socialist Nithya Raman wins Los Angeles mayoral race over incumbent Karen Bass
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