Nithya Raman defeats Karen Bass to win Los Angeles mayoralty

Nithya Raman has won the Los Angeles mayoral election, defeating incumbent Karen Bass in a result reported on November 5, 2026. The democratic socialist, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, will take over after a campaign focused on housing and municipal services.¹³⁵

Bass accepts defeat

The Guardian reported that the Associated Press had declared Raman the winner, with returns putting her just above 52% against Bass’s 48%. Bass, who had not previously lost an election, called Raman to congratulate her and promised to cooperate in transferring responsibility for the city.¹⁴

In a video statement following her victory, Raman paid tribute to Bass’s years of service, according to the Guardian. Her supporters gathered outside the Greek Theatre. Bass acknowledged the result, saying: “While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken”.¹

The BBC described Raman as having begun the contest with little expectation of defeating Bass, a former member of Congress. EL PAÍS reported that Raman would be Los Angeles’s first mayor of South Asian descent and the second woman to hold the office.²⁴

Housing and services

According to the Guardian, the election unfolded amid public frustration over homelessness, living costs and access to affordable housing, while the city faced a substantial budget deficit. Raman campaigned on reducing rents and homelessness, improving streets and protecting residents’ safety.¹

Her housing platform proposes construction for households across income levels and a goal of tripling the number of homes built annually, the Guardian reported. EL PAÍS said she also pledged faster construction permitting and a new office devoted to tenant protection.¹⁴

Other proposals include a City Hall financial watchdog, repairs to streets and streetlights, additional emergency telephone operators and expanded unarmed patrols and rapid-response teams, according to EL PAÍS. The newspaper also reported that Bass’s handling of the wildfires had contributed to her loss of support.⁴

A socialist with local roots

The Guardian traced Raman’s local political career to her 2020 council victory over an establishment Democrat, followed by re-election in 2024. Before entering the council, she co-founded the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition in 2017 to work with unhoused people.¹

Her relationship with the socialist organisation backing her has not been without disagreement. The Guardian reported that DSA-LA cited her position on Palestine as a point of conflict, and that a national vote to withdraw its endorsement failed by 14 votes to 13.¹

The BBC reported that Raman’s election means the two largest American cities will be led by democratic socialists. For Los Angeles, the municipal agenda also includes preparations to host the Super Bowl in 2027 and the Summer Olympics in 2028, according to the broadcaster.²