Councilmember Nithya Raman has jumped into the Los Angeles mayor’s race in a surprise late move against Mayor Karen Bass, despite long presenting herself as an ally of the mayor. Bass reportedly told supporters she was “flabbergasted.”
Raman says she entered the race out of frustration with city bureaucracy, arguing that basic services move too slowly and that City Hall lacks accountability, especially on homelessness. She pointed to encampment clearances in her district as proof of her approach, while criticizing the city’s spending as costly and poorly managed.
A councilmember for five years and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Raman insists she is an independent voice. Still, her sudden candidacy is likely to raise questions about political ambition as much as policy differences. Even if her mayoral bid falls short, she will keep her City Council seat through 2028.
