Raman Beats Bass for LA Mayor

Los Angeles voted out its mayor on Tuesday, ending a four-year tenure that began with high hopes and ended amid criticism of the city's response to wildfires and homelessness. Nithya Raman, a 45-year-old City Councilmember, defeated incumbent Karen Bass to claim the top executive seat in the city.

This marks the first time in nearly 25 years that an incumbent has lost the mayoral race in Los Angeles. Raman, who represents District 4, secures the position with 52% of the vote compared to Bass's 48%, according to the final count. Bass, 73, conceded the election on Thursday morning.

Raman is of Indian descent and becomes the first South Asian mayor in the city's history. She was first elected to the City Council in 2020 after defeating an incumbent with the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America. Her victory represents a shift in leadership, as polls indicated younger voters, particularly those aged 30 to 39, supported her over the older demographic that favored Bass.

In a video statement released after the results were clear, Raman said she was "deeply honored" to serve. She thanked volunteers who knocked on more than 110,000 doors during the campaign and pledged to focus on housing affordability, transit, and public safety. "And that work starts now, so that we can build housing that people can afford, parks for our children to play in, a transit system that can get people where they need to go," Raman said.

Bass acknowledged the loss in a statement, calling it an honor to have served "the city that raised me." She said she had called Raman to congratulate her and committed to a smooth transition. "While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken," Bass wrote. "I will continue to ensure the promise of a better life belongs to all of us."

The race saw significant spending from outside interests. Hedge fund manager Aaron Sosnick poured more than $8.5 million into ads supporting Raman and criticizing Bass. Independent expenditures totaled over $16 million against Raman and $13 million against Bass. The Los Angeles Police Protective League ran negative ads targeting Raman's opposition to an ordinance allowing police to clear homeless encampments near schools and daycares.

Raman's campaign emphasized her record as a tenant rights advocate and her promise to reform police leadership by removing Chief Jim McDonnell. She also vowed to improve basic services like pothole repair. Although the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and the Chamber of Commerce supported Bass, three major unions, including the United Auto Workers, backed Raman.

Bass's popularity declined during her term, partly due to the Palisades Fire, for which she faced criticism over the Fire Department's response while she was out of town. The city also struggled with a rising homelessness count and mismanagement at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, where Bass served on the board until recently.

Raman enters office as an outsider in a council that largely opposed her. All but one of her colleagues backed Bass, including three members of the DSA. City Controller Kenneth Mejia was the only elected official at City Hall to endorse Raman. She may find an ally in the city attorney's race, where DSA-backed Marissa Roy leads John McKinney.

Raman moved to Los Angeles in 2013 after earning degrees from Harvard and M.I.T. She previously served as executive director of Time's Up Entertainment and founded a nonprofit focused on homeless services. Her victory follows a broader national trend of progressive candidates defeating established incumbents in municipal races.