The Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has endorsed Councilmember Nithya Raman for mayor. This endorsement energizes Raman’s campaign as she challenges incumbent Karen Bass in the upcoming November 3 election.
Raman secured her endorsement by gaining over 60% of the vote in an online election among the more than 6,000 DSA members in the Los Angeles area. In total, over 1,400 votes were cast. While the group did not disclose the exact percentage of votes Raman received, the endorsement signals strong support from the organization’s members.
The DSA is known for its controversial positions on issues such as defunding the police and abolishing prisons. These stances often conflict with conservative views and have put it at odds with the Democratic Party establishment. Nevertheless, the group has achieved significant electoral victories across the country, including the election of Zohran Mamdani as the mayor of New York.
“The growth of DSA has shown a clear movement to the left nationally,” said Sara Sadhwani, a professor of politics at Pomona College. “A DSA endorsement will be shorthand for how to define Nithya Raman as a candidate both for the establishment in Los Angeles and for Republicans nationally.”
Nithya Raman, a DSA member since before her initial council run in 2020, is set to lead a slate of nine candidates supported by DSA-LA in local and federal races this November. Tal Levy, a member of the DSA-LA’s electoral politics committee, expressed confidence in Raman despite some concerns. The committee voted 3 to 2 to endorse Raman before the organization-wide vote, acknowledging that Raman may not always align perfectly with DSA issues. However, Levy believes there is strong agreement that she is the superior candidate in the general election.
Raman has previously received endorsements from DSA-LA in her two council campaigns, during which she passed key legislation, such as enhancing renter protections and revising the city’s rent stabilization ordinance. Despite past disagreements with the DSA, the endorsement highlights her continued influence and leadership within the city.
Some conflicts with the DSA include her approval of city budgets that increased police funding and efforts to modify Measure ULA, the ‘mansion tax,’ to exempt developers of multifamily and commercial projects. A significant disagreement arose following a statement by DSA on the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. While the DSA commented that the attack “was not unprovoked,” Raman criticized the group’s statement for lacking empathy for affected communities in Israel.
In early 2024, Raman faced censure from the DSA after she sought and accepted an endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles, a liberal Zionist group. Raman was the first DSA-backed official to win office in Los Angeles. Since her election, three more candidates endorsed by the group have joined the City Council: Hugo Soto-Martínez, Ysabel Jurado, and Eunisses Hernandez. However, all three have endorsed Bass for the current mayoral race.
Besides Raman, DSA’s slate for the November 3 election includes Marissa Roy for city attorney and Estuardo Mazariegos for the council in South L.A.
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