Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has secured a place in the November mayoral runoff, setting up a closely watched contest against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in one of the nation’s most influential cities.
The result marks a surprising turn in the race, with Raman, a progressive Democrat and former ally of Bass, advancing to the final round after steadily gaining support as additional ballots were counted following California’s primary election. The outcome also ends the mayoral bid of Republican and former reality television star Spencer Pratt, whose high-profile campaign failed to generate enough votes to reach the runoff.
The November election is expected to become a major test of Los Angeles voters’ appetite for progressive change as the city continues to grapple with homelessness, rising housing costs, deteriorating infrastructure, public safety concerns, and economic challenges.
Raman entered the race late after initially endorsing Bass for re-election. Elected to the City Council with support from progressive activists and the Democratic Socialists of America, Raman has positioned herself as a candidate focused on expanding housing construction, improving city services, and pursuing new strategies to address homelessness.
In a statement following her advancement, Raman criticized what she described as a failing political system that prioritizes powerful interests over working residents. She called on voters to support her vision for a city that delivers better services, more affordable housing, and stronger accountability from local government.
Bass, who became Los Angeles’ first Black woman mayor when elected in 2022, now faces a difficult re-election battle after receiving less than 35 percent of the vote in the primary. Her campaign quickly signaled its intention to draw contrasts with Raman on public safety and homelessness policies.
The race could also make history if Raman, who was born in India and moved to the United States as a child, becomes the first South Asian woman elected mayor of Los Angeles.
Despite being officially nonpartisan, the election has highlighted divisions within the Democratic Party. Bass is backed by prominent Democratic figures, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with major labor organizations.
Raman has argued that current homelessness policies are ineffective and has called for a more comprehensive approach that prioritizes permanent housing solutions rather than moving encampments from one neighborhood to another. Her stance on several issues, including homeless encampments and policing, has evolved during her time on the City Council.
Previously associated with calls to reduce police funding, Raman now supports maintaining the Los Angeles Police Department at its current staffing levels of approximately 8,600 officers. She has also softened her opposition to certain no-camping zones that city officials use to clear homeless encampments.
The delayed outcome reflects California’s lengthy ballot-counting process, which allows mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within seven days. As election officials processed late-arriving ballots, Raman steadily closed the gap and ultimately overtook Pratt for the second runoff position.
Political analysts say Raman’s challenge moving forward will be expanding her support beyond her progressive base and attracting voters who backed other candidates during the primary. At the same time, Bass must contend with voter frustration over persistent city problems that have fueled demands for change.
The runoff is expected to focus heavily on homelessness, housing affordability, public safety, economic development, and the overall direction of Los Angeles as the city approaches a pivotal election in November.
