Nithya Raman unseats Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass; Democratic Socialists now back the mayors of the two largest U.S. cities
LAist has the count, Bass's concession in full and what Raman has promised, plus why LA results take weeks to certify.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman defeated Mayor Karen Bass, and Bass conceded on Thursday, November 5. "While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken," Bass said, committing to "a smooth and seamless transition." Raman, of Indian descent, becomes the city's first South Asian mayor, LAist reports. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, she joins New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, meaning DSA-backed candidates will run the country's two largest cities.
Raman filed on the last possible day in February, less than two weeks after endorsing Bass. Bass led early on election night; Raman pulled ahead early Wednesday as later ballots were counted. She has promised to tackle housing affordability, homelessness and police reform, including removing LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, and to improve basic services such as pothole repair.
Results are not final: ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they arrive within seven days, and the county is due to certify on November 27. AP estimated 76% of votes counted by Thursday morning.
-
Democratic Socialists of America
After exploring Nithya Raman will be LA's next mayor; Karen Bass concedes, for who backed her and what they want, see the Democratic Socialists of America.
The DSA is the largest socialist organization in U.S. history, with more than 130,000 members as of November 2026, organized around democratic socialism.
Wikipedia · Wade · 5 min
0