In Nithya Raman’s rise in LA, Kerala’s quiet pride: ‘A mayor who can follow Malayalam’

Nithya Raman, an Indian-origin city council woman from Los Angeles, has triumphed over incumbent mayor Karen Bass in the city's mayoral election. Raman, who was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2020, entered the race in February, challenging Bass, whom she had endorsed just weeks earlier. The contest turned into a generational and political battle, with the two candidates presenting differing views on public safety, affordable housing, and homelessness.

While Bass received backing from the city's political establishment, Raman garnered support from progressive groups like the Democratic Socialists of America and Streets For All. Campaign strategies differed, with Bass targeting older voters and Raman focusing on bars, nightclubs, and college campuses. Despite Bass securing 34% of the votes in the June primary, Raman criticized her predecessor's approach to homelessness, pledging to halve street homelessness by the summer of 2028 and eliminate it by the end of her first term.

Both candidates received substantial financial backing from outside groups, with homelessness, public safety, and affordable housing remaining key issues for voters.