Los Angeles, Nov. 6: India-born Democratic socialist Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Karen Bass to become the next mayor of Los Angeles. She secured 52.1% of the votes, while Bass received 47.9%, according to the latest results.
Bass conceded the election on Thursday, November 5, and congratulated Raman on her victory. The result marks a major political shift in the nation’s second-largest city.
“I’m deeply honored to be your next mayor,” Raman, 45, said in a social media statement.
“I love this city. I believe in its people. The work ahead will be hard, and change will take time,” she said. Raman also promised to build a future reflecting Los Angeles’s potential.
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The Associated Press projected Raman as the winner after the latest vote count. She will become Los Angeles’s 44th mayor.
Nithya Raman Campaign Focused on Everyday Civic Issues
Raman campaigned on what she described as “pothole politics”. She highlighted broken streetlights and damaged sidewalks as examples of failures in city administration.
She also focused on the rising cost of living and affordability concerns among younger voters.
Raman entered the mayoral race in the final hours before the filing deadline. She had initially supported Bass’s re-election campaign before deciding to challenge her former political ally.
Her decision upset several members of the city’s Democratic establishment. Many prominent Democrats had already backed Bass for another term.
Raman previously became the first Democratic Socialists of America-affiliated member of the Los Angeles City Council. Her mayoral victory adds to the organisation’s electoral gains across the United States.
Bass, 73, became Los Angeles’s first Black woman mayor after winning the 2022 election. However, her administration faced criticism over several issues during her term.
The handling of the deadly 2025 wildfires became a major challenge for her administration. The fires broke out while Bass was travelling abroad on official business.
Bass acknowledged the election outcome and promised a smooth transition.
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“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken,” she said.
She added that she had called Raman to congratulate her and committed to ensuring a seamless transfer of power.
New Mayor Faces Challenges Ahead of 2028 Olympics
Raman’s victory comes as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games. She will take charge of the city as it faces challenges involving housing affordability, homelessness and public infrastructure.
Before the election, Raman described public dissatisfaction with the city’s existing administration as a major factor in the campaign.
“This city’s government has made solving problems look impossible for so long,” she said.
“Hopelessness can be fatal for a city, but this campaign refused to accept that.”
Her victory also reflects growing support for progressive candidates in major American cities. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s political rise has provided a prominent example for candidates associated with the Democratic socialist movement.
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