Nithya Raman, a progressive city council member in Los Angeles, has advanced to a November runoff against the city’s mayor, Karen Bass. This unexpected race features two Democrats who were once political allies, competing to lead a city of nearly 4 million people.
Republican candidate Spencer Pratt, known for his role in “The Hills,” is out of the race. Despite attracting national attention, his campaign did not secure enough votes to continue. Raman, after endorsing Bass for reelection, made a last-minute entry into the race. Originally elected to the council with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, Raman’s candidacy will test whether voters desire a shift further left to address homelessness, infrastructure issues, and rising housing costs.
The race holds historical significance. Bass is the first Black woman to hold the mayoral office in Los Angeles, and Raman could become the first South Asian woman to do so. Raman stated, “If you’re as frustrated by the broken status quo as I am, I hope you’ll join our movement to build a city that works for everyone.” She criticized City Hall for prioritizing political interests over working people, who face higher rents and diminished services.
“A campaign against Nithya Raman, who allows encampments near schools and cuts the police force, is one Mayor Bass looks forward to winning,” said Bass campaign strategist Douglas Herman.
Throughout the vote counting process, Raman steadily gained support over Pratt, eventually securing a lead of nearly 22,000 votes. The contest sets the stage for one of the state’s two prominent races. Democrat Xavier Becerra has advanced in the governor’s race, though his opponent remains undetermined.
Despite being a nonpartisan election, Bass received less than 35% of the vote. The incumbent mayor, backed by figures like Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, was under consideration by former President Joe Biden as a potential vice-presidential candidate in 2020.
Raman’s campaign promises to accelerate housing construction, revive entertainment industry jobs, and enhance city services. Referring to current strategies on homelessness, Raman remarked, “What we are doing right now is just not working.”
California’s vote count is notoriously slow due to its process. Ballots are mailed to voters, and those postmarked by Election Day are counted if they arrive within seven days. Results released nightly demonstrated gradual changes in candidate standings, benefiting both Bass and Raman as late mail ballots favored Democrats.
Raman’s stance on homelessness and policing have evolved. Originally opposed to tent bans near schools, she later supported no-camping zones. Her views on policing also shifted. Though she previously advocated for reducing police size and opposed a costly police contract, she now supports maintaining the current force of 8,600 officers.
Raman seeks to build diverse coalitions needed to surpass 50% of the vote and win. Democratic consultant Bill Carrick commented on Bass’s vulnerability, stating, “The people who didn’t vote for Nithya weren’t voting against her, they were voting for somebody else.”
Local voter Tanika Vickers expressed her disenchantment with existing conditions, supporting Raman as the candidate most capable of addressing the city’s challenges. “I think that we are all looking for change,” Vickers said.
Associated Press journalists Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles and Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington contributed to this report.
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