Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman is projected to become the city's next mayor, defeating incumbent Karen Bass in a race that marks a significant political shift. Decision Desk HQ called the contest Wednesday evening, with Raman leading by roughly 26,000 votes—about 3 percentage points—out of more than 784,000 ballots cast.
Raman's victory ends Bass's single term in office and hands the mayor's office to a self-described democratic socialist, a first for the city. The council member, who entered the race in February, positioned herself as a change agent, criticizing the mayor's handling of the aftermath of the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, as well as persistent issues like homelessness, police reform, and affordable housing.
Raman, a former ally of Bass, successfully built a campaign around the idea that the city needed new leadership to tackle its most pressing challenges. She highlighted the slow pace of recovery from the fires and argued that the city's approach to homelessness had not yielded sufficient results.
Her victory is also a landmark for the Democratic Socialists of America, which endorsed her campaign. Raman, a member of the DSA's Los Angeles chapter, had emphasized her independence from the group in her council decisions, but her affiliation has drawn national attention. She follows New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, another DSA-backed candidate who won last year, giving the organization a second mayoral win in a major American city.
The race drew national interest, with Raman's campaign receiving endorsements from the Sierra Club, Unite Here Local 11, LA Forward, and the Eastside Padres Contra la Privatización. Her grassroots support helped her advance from the June primary, where she and Bass emerged from a crowded field that included former reality TV star Spencer Pratt.
Raman's election as a socialist mayor has historical echoes. She is the first candidate from the Socialist Party to win the Los Angeles mayoralty since lawyer Job Harriman ran in 1911. Harriman's campaign was derailed by the bombing of the Los Angeles Times building, which was linked to two union members he represented in court, according to the Museum of the New Llano Colony.
Political analysts see Raman's win as part of a broader trend in urban politics, where progressive candidates are gaining ground on issues like housing and public safety. Her victory may also influence upcoming races, including the D.C. mayoral race, where a similar dynamic is playing out.
Raman will inherit a city still grappling with the aftermath of the fires, a housing crisis, and calls for police reform. Her supporters expect her to move quickly on campaign promises, but she will face the same institutional hurdles that challenged her predecessor.
