Nithya Raman makes history with LA mayoral win

Nithya Raman, a Democratic socialist-backed candidate and member of the Los Angeles City Council, has defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a closely contested election, marking a significant political shift in the second-largest city in the United States.

Bass conceded defeat on Thursday, congratulating Raman on her victory and pledging to ensure a smooth transition of power. The result makes Raman the first challenger to unseat a sitting Los Angeles mayor since 2005.

Raman’s victory is part of a broader rise in support for progressive and democratic socialist candidates across the United States, several of whom have recently defeated established centrist politicians in major electoral contests.

Born in India, Raman entered Los Angeles politics in 2020 when she was elected to the City Council. Before pursuing a political career, she worked as an urban planner and became involved in housing and homelessness issues.

Her campaign gained momentum by focusing on some of the city’s most pressing challenges, particularly homelessness, affordable housing, public transport and neighbourhood safety.

Homelessness emerged as one of the defining issues of the election. According to the latest annual figures from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, approximately 44,000 people were homeless in the city in 2025. Of these, around 27,000 were living without shelter on streets, in vehicles or in temporary encampments. Nearly 5,000 people were concentrated in the downtown Skid Row district.

Raman made housing affordability and improved public services central promises of her campaign. In a video message thanking voters and campaign volunteers, she pledged to expand affordable housing, develop parks for children, improve public transportation and make the city safer for working families.

Her victory has also drawn comparisons with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was elected last year. Both politicians have become prominent figures in the growing progressive movement in American politics.

Raman has acknowledged the comparisons but stressed that she has her own political identity and approach to governing. She has described herself as an independent political figure rather than simply a West Coast version of Mamdani.

Meanwhile, Bass’s defeat follows mounting criticism over her administration’s handling of the devastating January 2025 Palisades wildfire. The disaster killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 structures, severely damaging communities across the Los Angeles area.

The Eaton Fire, which struck Altadena and surrounding neighbourhoods east of Los Angeles during the same period, killed another 19 people and destroyed more than 9,400 homes, businesses and other structures.

Bass, who became the first woman elected mayor of Los Angeles, had made tackling homelessness one of her main priorities when she took office four years ago. However, her administration faced criticism from affordable-housing advocates who argued that progress had fallen short of expectations.

Before becoming mayor, Bass served six terms in the US House of Representatives and had a professional background in healthcare.

Raman’s election now places her at the centre of expectations for political and administrative change in Los Angeles. Her ability to address homelessness, housing costs, public safety and the city’s infrastructure will be among the major challenges facing her incoming administration.