On Saturday, just hours before the filing deadline, City Council Member Nithya Raman, an ally of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, announced she is running for Mayor of L.A.
With the ballots finalized, Raman is set to face Bass, community organizer Rae Huang, Tech executive Adam Miller, Reality TV star Spencer Platt and others in the June 2 L.A. mayoral primary.
Despite endorsing Bass’ reelection bid, Raman expressed concerns about the current state of affairs in the city during her candidacy announcement.
“Los Angeles is at a breaking point, and people feel it in the most basic ways,” she said in the news conference following her announcement. “Housing costs are forcing families out of the city. A homelessness system that lacks clear ownership and accountability is leaving people stuck in crisis, while the city cycles from emergency to emergency.”
Growing in popularity among progressives across L.A., Raman first won her city council seat with the support of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the same party that endorsed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during his campaign.
Supporters and critics have compared Raman to Mamdani for her stance on housing costs and affordability, according to the New York Times.
E.J. Kovacs-Morgan, a USC first-year majoring in International Relations, believes that Bass’s moderate Democrat stance would not represent L.A.’s diverse community.
“The city of Los Angeles is so diverse and so big,” he said. “There’s a huge ice problem, we mishandled the fires, and I think a moderate stance on a lot of issues is not what the people would want.”
Trent Winston, a USC second-year majoring in Political Science, echoed similar sentiments.
“I don’t think [Bass] accurately represents the city of Los Angeles, because I think Los Angeles is a pretty progressive city,” he said. “I think if you look at the City Council and even like the state representatives, you know, it’s a strong, highly progressive community.”
Winston noted Raman’s connections to the DSA as a major pull for her among progressive L.A. voters.
While Raman’s political party may turn off some voters, DSA support could be a key factor in helping Raman win votes among young, progressive locals. In New York City’s mayoral race, DSA played an integral role in the election of Mamdani.
After seeking and accepting an endorsement from Democrats for Israel’s L.A. chapter, DSA-LA put out an official statement to censure the councilmember, but maintain their endorsement of her candidacy.
“Councilmember Raman’s actions have undermined the work of DSA-LA’s Palestine Solidarity Working Group, Political Education Committee and DSA organizers broadly,” said DSA-LA in the statement. “DSA-LA’s decision to maintain Councilmember Raman’s endorsement signifies the membership’s desire for Raman’s realignment to the Democratic Socialist Program. This censure is a part of that conversation.”
Raman made history in 2020 as the first person backed by the DSA to win a City Council seat in L.A., as well as the first South Asian woman to hold a council position. Raman currently represents District 4, including Hollywood, Silver Lake, Hancock Park, Los Feliz, Miracle Mile, and parts of Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys and Toluca Lake.
“I have been very, very frustrated with Los Angeles for the last few months,” Raman told NBCLA. “Right now, I feel a call from Los Angeles for change across the entire city. I feel a sense of frustration and even despondency.”
Since launching her mayoral campaign, Raman has advocated for policies to improve housing production and affordability in L.A.
“Housing costs are forcing families out of the city,” she said in her announcement speech. “A homelessness system that lacks clear ownership and accountability is leaving people stuck in crisis while the city cycles from emergency to emergency.”
For Winston, housing in L.A. is a major issue.
“There’s definitely a housing crisis in L.A.,” he said. “The unhoused population needs to be addressed.”
Raman’s campaign also pushes to improve safety in L.A.
“Too many people don’t feel safe walking down their own blocks at night, even as crime comes down because broken street lights stay broken and the city can’t seem to manage the basics,” said Raman in her announcement speech.
While Raman has gained support from some locals, her sudden run for mayor has sparked controversy because of her prior endorsement of Bass.
The two mayoral candidates share similar stances on issues such as homelessness and immigration policy — unsurprising given her prior endorsement of the mayor.
Bass learned of Raman’s decision to run against her only moments before the announcement and said she was “flabbergasted,” according to an X post by journalist David Dayen.
Polls place Bass’s approval rate around the low 40% mark, with many critics holding her mis-handling of the January 2025 L.A. wildfires responsible, according to Cal Matters.
Frank Zerunyan, a USC professor of the practice of governance, said that Raman’s decision to run against the current mayor is due to the backlash that Bass has faced from the current issues facing L.A.
“I don’t think many people would have even ventured in challenging [Bass],” Zerunyan said. “But unfortunately for her, there is a little bit of bad press out there, maybe a lot of bad press out there, which makes her vulnerable.”
Nithya Raman did not respond to requests for comment as of publication.