Los Angeles— Indian-origin city councilmember Nithya Raman stunned LA's political establishment by announcing her surprise mayoral run on Saturday, just hours before the filing deadline.
The 44-year-old progressive leader, who made history in 2020 as the first Democratic Socialist of America (DSA)-backed candidate to win a Los Angeles City Council seat, filed her candidacy to challenge incumbent Mayor Karen Bass despite endorsing her just a month earlier.
Her late-stage entry has upended what was seen as a two-horse race and introduced fresh momentum to California's largest city's political landscape.
Key Facts
• Born in India, immigrated at age 6; Harvard graduate with MIT master's degree in urban planning; married with two young children living in Silver Lake
• Filed for LA mayor race on February 8, 2026, hours before the noon deadline; over 40 candidates competing for June 2 primary election
• First DSA-backed council member in LA history (2020); chairs Housing and Homelessness Committee; re-elected in 2024 representing 4th District including Hollywood, Silver Lake, Studio City, and Encino
Nithya Raman emerged from relatively obscurity in LA political circles when she defeated 17-year incumbent David Ryu in 2020, igniting a wave of progressive candidates. Her victory paved the way for fellow DSA members to secure council seats, creating a formidable progressive voting bloc that now includes four DSA-backed councilmembers.
This coalition has influenced Mayor Bass's agenda while pushing for policies like reduced police spending and expanded social services.
Raman's shocking decision to run against Bass highlights growing frustration among LA's progressive base about the pace of change on housing affordability and homelessness. She publicly endorsed Bass just last month, making her campaign announcement even more dramatic for longtime political observers. In explaining her pivot, Raman told reporters that
with families being priced out, housing built too slowly, and city services crumbling.
The councilmember's late entry into the race means she missed crucial endorsement windows from labor unions, advocacy organizations, and political action committees that already committed to Bass. Political analysts note that while her timing is unconventional, four months provides enough runway to mount a credible campaign against a potentially vulnerable incumbent. UC Berkeley political communications lecturer Dan Schnur observed that new revelations about Bass's handling of last year's devastating Palisades Fire have
Raman's policy focus centers on fiscal management and basic city services rather than flashy initiatives. She criticized Bass for prioritizing hosting major sporting events over addressing the housing shortage and questioned the cost-effectiveness of the Inside Safe homelessness program.
Her campaign also raised transparency concerns about the city's response to the Palisades Fire, suggesting broader accountability issues in city government.
As a city council member, Raman has championed traditionally progressive measures including just-cause eviction protections and strengthened rent stabilization ordinances. Her Housing and Homelessness Committee role positioned her to understand firsthand the gaps between voter-approved tax measures and actual results on the ground. She emphasized that Angelenos
to address crises but
Raman's candidacy draws immediate comparisons to Zohran Mamdani, another DSA-backed politician recently elected mayor of New York City, suggesting a broader national trend. However, she faces significantly steeper odds than Bass, who has enjoyed strong support from organized labor, the Black community, and centrist voters.
Bass responded diplomatically, calling Raman "a great ally" while her campaign pointed to record homelessness decreases and historic crime lows under her administration.
To qualify for the ballot, Raman must either pay a $300 filing fee and submit at least 500 valid signatures or submit 1,000 valid signatures without a fee by March 4 deadline. Her campaign is starting from scratch with no website, minimal funding infrastructure, and limited organizational setup compared to Bass's well-established political machine.
Despite these disadvantages, political observers note that term limits and changing voter sentiment could create openings for challengers.
Do You Know?
Zohran Mamdani, another DSA-backed politician similar to Nithya Raman, was recently elected mayor of New York City, demonstrating that democratic socialist candidates are gaining traction in major American cities and winning major races against established political machines.
Key Terms
• Democratic Socialists of America (DSA): A political organization advocating for policies including affordable housing, reduced police spending, wealth redistribution, and expanded social services through democratic means.
• Just-cause eviction protections: Tenant rights policies that prevent landlords from evicting renters without valid legal reasons, protecting housing stability for vulnerable renters.
• Rent stabilization ordinance: City regulation that limits how much landlords can increase rent annually, designed to prevent rapid displacement of tenants in expensive housing markets.
• Inside Safe program: Los Angeles city initiative launched under Mayor Bass aimed at transitioning homeless individuals into permanent housing with supportive services.
Image from Wikimedia Commons