Nithya Raman Defeats Karen Bass in Los Angeles Mayoral Race

Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman is projected to become the city's next mayor after defeating incumbent Karen Bass in the mayoral election. Decision Desk HQ called the race Wednesday evening, with Raman establishing a lead of approximately 26,000 votes. According to Decision Desk HQ, Raman secured an advantage of roughly 3 percent among 784,262 ballots counted.

The result ends Bass's tenure after one term and marks a significant political change in California's largest city. The two candidates advanced from the June 2 nonpartisan primary, which also eliminated former reality television personality Spencer Pratt. Raman entered the mayoral contest in February, making her a relatively late addition to the race.

Her campaign distinguished itself by challenging the incumbent's record on several major municipal issues. Raman highlighted the aftermath of the devastating 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, homelessness, Los Angeles Police Department reform, and affordable housing.

Raman also presented her approach as an alternative to Bass's administration, emphasizing how she would handle the city's challenges differently. Her campaign drew support from several political, labor, environmental, and community organizations. Among her endorsers were the Sierra Club, Unite Here Local 11, LA Forward, Eastside Padres Contra la Privatización, and the Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles chapter. Raman is a member of the socialist organization.

Her election would make her Los Angeles's first socialist mayor, according to The Hill. The political development also follows the election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who won his race the previous year. Despite her organizational affiliation, Raman campaigned on maintaining independence from the Democratic Socialists of America when making decisions on the City Council. Her political background nevertheless represents a significant milestone for the organization, which now has members leading two major American cities.

Raman first entered the Los Angeles City Council in 2020 after defeating incumbent council member David Ryu. Her transition from city council member to mayor-elect follows a campaign centered on municipal governance and criticism of the incumbent administration. The city's socialist political history also provides context for the election.

Before the 2026 mayoral contest, the last Socialist Party candidate to run for Los Angeles mayor was lawyer Job Harriman in 1911. According to the Museum of the New Llano Colony, Harriman lost political support before that election following the bombing of the Los Angeles Times building. The incident was linked to two union members whom Harriman had represented in court.