From Chennai activist to LA mayor: Nithya Raman's journey to leading America's second-largest city
Nithya Raman, who worked on civic infrastructure and urban planning in Chennai before entering US politics, has won the Los Angeles mayoral race, marking a milestone for Indian-American representation.
Kerala-born Nithya Raman secured victory in the Los Angeles mayoral race, becoming the first Indian-American elected to lead the city as America's second-largest metropolis. Incumbent Karen Bass conceded defeat, pledging a smooth transition as Raman, an urban planner and former city council member, would assume leadership of the city.
Raman's campaign centered on affordable housing, homelessness management, and enhancing municipal services, including better street light maintenance, pothole repairs, and police reforms. Born in Thrissur, Keralam, to a Tamil Brahmin family, Raman's political interests were influenced by her work in Chennai, where she headed Transparent Chennai, a project focusing on mapping public toilets and informal waste recyclers.
She also resisted the forced relocation of families from Chennai's waterways. Raman's focus on data-driven urban planning and community activism marked her political philosophy, aiming to address housing affordability and homelessness. The 5.5 million-strong Indian-American community saw several candidates win elections across the country, with Raman's victory reflecting the growing political influence of South Asian Americans, particularly in California.
Written by urgent.news from Live Mint's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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