Nithya Raman: Who is the India-born council member challenging Karen Bass for Los Angeles mayor?

Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has emerged as the surprise challenger to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass after securing a place in the November mayoral runoff. The contest pits two Democrats and former political allies against each other at a time when voters in the city are increasingly focused on issues such as homelessness, housing affordability and the quality of public services.

Raman's advancement to the runoff marks a significant moment in Los Angeles politics. Elected to the City Council with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, she has built her political identity around calls for systemic changes in housing and homelessness policy. Her candidacy is also being closely watched as a measure of whether voters want the city to move further left in addressing persistent urban challenges.

Who is Nithya Raman?

Born in India and raised in the United States, Raman studied at Harvard University before earning a degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her academic background has shaped much of her public policy focus, particularly on housing and city development.


Raman entered elected office in 2020 when she won a seat on the Los Angeles City Council. She was reelected in 2024 and currently represents the Fourth District, a geographically diverse constituency that stretches from the San Fernando Valley to the Santa Monica Mountains.

Her decision to run against Bass surprised many observers. Raman had previously endorsed the mayor's reelection bid but launched her own campaign in February, arguing that Los Angeles was facing mounting challenges and needed a stronger response from city leadership. She has publicly criticised what she describes as insufficient action on some of the city's most pressing issues.

Key principles in Nithya Raman's campaigns

Housing and homelessness have become defining themes of Raman's political career. She has argued that simply moving homeless encampments from one neighbourhood to another does not solve the underlying crisis. Her campaign has also emphasised accelerating housing construction, improving city services and helping revive jobs in the entertainment sector.

Raman's approach to homelessness has drawn both support and criticism. She has maintained that anti-encampment measures alone cannot provide a lasting solution and has opposed policies that she believes merely shift the problem from one location to another. Her stance has placed her at the centre of several high-profile debates within City Hall.

Raman's views on policing have also evolved during her time in office. While she previously supported reducing the size of the police force and publicly embraced "defund the police" messaging in 2020, she has more recently said the Los Angeles Police Department should maintain its current staffing levels. Her changing position has become a point of attack for critics and police union-backed campaigns.

Beyond policy, Raman's candidacy carries historic significance. If elected, she would become the first South Asian woman to serve as mayor of Los Angeles, succeeding Bass, who made history as the city's first Black woman mayor.

Speaking to supporters after the primary, Raman framed her campaign as part of a broader movement for change in Los Angeles. She has also indicated that the mayoral race will be her final political campaign if she is unsuccessful, adding further weight to what is already shaping up to be one of the city's most consequential elections in recent years.