Democratic socialist Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the race for mayor of Los Angeles.
Raman’s victory stunned political observers across California. She entered the contest as a long-shot challenger to Bass, a seasoned political figure who previously served in Congress and had never lost an election.
Raman has frequently been compared to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Both are democratic socialists who campaigned on progressive platforms.
Her win means that the United States’ two largest cities will now be led by democratic socialists, including high-profile figures such as Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Los Angeles was always expected to elect a Democratic mayor, but the question facing voters was just how far left they were willing to go.
Bass, also a Democrat, conceded the race in a social media post on Thursday, writing, “while this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken.”
“Moving this city forward is what Los Angeles needs from all of us,” Bass wrote. “I love Los Angeles. I believe in Los Angeles. And I will continue to ensure the promise of a better life belongs to all of us.”
Raman, a city council member and Indian immigrant, ran on a platform of change and fixing the “broken status quo and the politicians who failed them over and over again.”
Her campaign focused on reducing homelessness, expanding housing, protecting Hollywood jobs from further cuts, and shielding residents from immigration enforcement. She also vowed to address municipal issues such as beautification, road repairs, and reviving the city’s nightlife.
The defining issue of the race was the Los Angeles fires, which killed dozens and razed neighborhoods across the area in 2025. Bass faced intense political fallout over her absence during the emergency and the city’s response to the disaster.
The next mayor of Los Angeles will oversee the city as it hosts the Super Bowl in 2027 and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
