Nithya Raman has won the race for mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Democrat Karen Bass. With 76% of the vote counted, Raman had 52.1% and Bass 47.9%. Raman, previously a city council member, belongs to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the same organization as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Raman’s victory means that DSA-affiliated politicians will lead three of the most important U.S. cities once they take office: Los Angeles, New York and Washington.
“Los Angeles, I am deeply honored to be your next mayor. I love this city and I love its people. I can’t wait to start building a better future together with all of you,” she said.
Bass conceded and said she had called Raman to congratulate her. She also promised a smooth transfer of power, stressing that the city’s residents had expressed their will at the ballot box.
Raman entered the race relatively late and had previously supported Bass’s reelection. In June, she defeated Republican candidate Spencer Pratt in the primary and advanced to the general election.
Her campaign focused on lowering rents, strengthening protections for tenants and improving access to city services. Raman also criticized the Trump administration, particularly over immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles, as well as local authorities, accusing them of not doing enough to protect residents from the president’s policies. At the same time, she said she was ready to work with the federal government when it served the city’s interests.
Among those who endorsed the council member was independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Raman’s win is part of a series of election successes for politicians linked to the Democratic Socialists of America. The DSA’s winning streak began with Zohran Mamdani, who became mayor of New York in 2025. The organization’s next success was the victory of Janeese Lewis George, also a DSA member, in Tuesday’s election for mayor of Washington. Her platform was identical to the promises made by Raman and by Mamdani during his campaign.
Raman will be the first Asian American mayor of Los Angeles, the largest city in California.
In January 2027, democratic socialists will govern the three most important metropolises in the country: New York, Los Angeles and Washington, the U.S. capital.
Ed. JŁ
Source: Nowy Dziennik
