DSA Socialist Nithya Raman Elected Mayor of Los Angeles, Defeating Incumbent Karen Bass

Nithya Raman, a 45-year-old Democratic socialist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has been elected mayor of Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city. She defeated one-term incumbent Karen Bass in the November 3, 2026, general election. With roughly 76% of expected votes counted as of Thursday, November 5, Raman held approximately 52% of the vote (about 429,450 votes) to Bass's 48% (about 394,796 votes), a lead of roughly 35,000 votes. Bass conceded on Thursday, calling Raman to congratulate her and pledging a smooth transition.

Raman, born in Kerala, India, moved to the United States as a child and settled in Los Angeles in 2013. She holds degrees from Harvard and MIT, worked as an urban planner, co-founded the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, and won a City Council seat representing District 4 in 2020-the first time a challenger unseated an incumbent councilmember in 17 years. She is the first Asian American (specifically South Asian) elected mayor of Los Angeles and only the second woman to hold the office. Her term is set to begin in mid-December 2026.

She entered the mayoral race at the last minute in February 2026 after previously endorsing Bass. In the June primary, Bass finished first (around 34%), Raman second (around 29%), and former reality television personality Spencer Pratt third (around 26%). Raman overtook Pratt in later ballot counts to advance to the runoff; she did not concede the primary to him. Pratt, who lost his home in the 2025 Palisades Fire, conceded the primary and continued criticizing both candidates.

Pratt has repeatedly attacked Raman on social media, describing her as incompetent, a "scammer," and weak. In one post he called her "a fundamentally unimpressive person" and said "this lady is so weak." He has also highlighted her DSA ties, at one point noting tensions within the organization over her endorsement and claiming the group was considering rescinding support or expelling her. Raman's relationship with DSA-LA has been complicated: the chapter endorsed her for mayor after a membership vote, but she has faced censure from the group in the past over an endorsement from a pro-Israel organization and has differed with it on certain policy questions. Other DSA-aligned councilmembers endorsed Bass.

Bass's concession came after a campaign dominated by issues including homelessness, housing costs, public safety, and the city's response to the January 2025 Palisades Fire. The fire ignited on January 7, 2025, while Bass was in Ghana attending the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama as part of a U.S. presidential delegation. She faced sustained criticism for being out of the country amid high-wind fire warnings; the blaze destroyed thousands of structures and killed multiple people. Bass has described her absence as a mistake and her biggest regret, while pointing to other factors in the response. She later removed the city's fire chief amid disputes over preparedness.

In her concession statement, Bass said the people of Los Angeles had spoken and that she had called Raman to congratulate her while committing to a seamless transition. Raman thanked Bass for her decades of public service and outlined priorities around affordable housing, parks, transit, and a more effective city government.

Raman's victory marks the first time in more than two decades that a challenger has defeated an incumbent Los Angeles mayor. She ran with support from progressive groups including DSA-LA, emphasizing frustration with the status quo and "pothole politics" focused on basic city services.