Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the mayoral race for Los Angeles, making the 45-year-old city council member the city’s next leader and securing a major victory for the left wing of the Democratic Party, Blick reported. The victory marks a significant shift as the city’s second-largest metropolis comes under the governance of a politician from the left wing of the party.
Raman, an Indian-born member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America, finished behind Bass in the June primary before taking first place following a long vote count in the runoff on November 3, according to US media reports announced on November 5, 2026. Bass, who had previously served in the House of Representatives in Washington and had never lost an election, was unseated despite receiving support from prominent party figures such as Kamala Harris and state governor Gavin Newsom.
Campaign Issues and Criticism of the Incumbent
Bass, who was elected in 2022 as the city’s first female mayor, faced sharp criticism for her handling of the fires that traumatized Los Angeles in January 2025 and for the slow rebuilding of the affected areas as reported by Swissinfo. High living costs, housing shortages, and the homelessness crisis had also caused ongoing frustration and tension in the city, where Raman focused her campaign on housing and support for the film industry.
Because the mayoral office in Los Angeles is officially nonpartisan, the candidates did not run as official party nominees under the state constitution according to Swissinfo’s overview of the election rules. Raman ran with backing from left-wing politicians including Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America.
Raman Addresses Supporters Following Election Outcome
Following the outcome, Raman addressed her supporters as captured in Los Angeles and shared her reaction on social media.
Ich habe gerade mit Bürgermeisterin Bass gesprochen und ihr meine tiefste Dankbarkeit für ihre Führung und ihre jahrzehntelangen Dienste ausgedrückt. Los Angeles wäre ohne sie nicht die Stadt, die sie heute ist
Raman wrote, as cited by Blick.
Observers noted that the outcome mirrors political shifts elsewhere in the country, drawing comparisons to New York where Zohran Mamdani previously defeated Andrew Cuomo.
