NITHYA RAMAN DEFEATS KAREN BASS IN LOS ANGELES MAYORAL RACE

Nithya Raman has won the Los Angeles mayoral election against incumbent Karen Bass, with election returns putting Raman’s share just above 52% against Bass’s 48%. Raman’s victory puts her on course to become the city’s first South Asian mayor. Raman said in a video statement: “I love this city and I love its people.” She added: “And I cannot wait to get started on building a better future together with all of you.”

Raman, who was born in India and worked as an urban planner, has served on Los Angeles City Council since 2020. She initially endorsed Bass for re-election before entering the contest in February, hours before the filing deadline. The Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America backed Raman’s campaign. Bass received support from California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The campaign included exchanges over the candidates’ records on addressing Los Angeles’s problems, including homelessness, rising costs and housing affordability.

Raman praised Bass after the result, describing her as “someone who has given decades of her life to making the city what it is today”. Her victory follows Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York City’s mayoral election last year. The Democratic Socialists of America said it contributed to at least 300 candidacies or ballot referendums during the midterms and expected to count 105 victories. Darializa Avila Chevalier, Claire Valdez, Melat Kiros and Chris Rabb won their first terms as US representatives.