Democratic socialist Nithya Raman defeats Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayor’s race

Key Points:

• Nithya Raman, a progressive and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has defeated incumbent Karen Bass to become the new mayor of Los Angeles, marking a significant political shift in the city.
• Raman criticized Bass for her handling of homelessness and housing issues, as well as Bass’s absence during the destructive 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
• The election underscores a generational and ideological divide within the Democratic Party, with Raman supporting more left-wing positions, including controversial views on the Israel-Gaza conflict, in contrast to Bass’s more moderate stance.
• Raman’s victory adds Los Angeles to the list of major U.S. cities led by democratic socialists, joining New York City and Washington, D.C., and her agenda will be shaped by the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics.
• A former urban planner and Harvard and MIT graduate, Raman previously endorsed Bass before launching her own late campaign, ultimately advancing past both Bass and a populist challenger in the primary.