Los Angeles Leadership: Nithya Raman Wins Mayoral Race
Karen Bass concedes defeat after Raman secures 34,654 votes in a tight contest decided by Tuesday's election results.
By Ana Castro ·
Nithya Raman will become the next mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Karen Bass by a margin of 34,654 votes. The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk released figures on Thursday morning showing Raman with 429,450 votes, or 52.1 percent of the total. Bass received 394,796 votes, accounting for the remaining 47.9 percent. The Associated Press projected Raman as the winner shortly before noon on Thursday, two days after the general election.
Bass formally conceded the race on Thursday, marking the end of a four-year tenure that began with her historic election as the first Black woman to lead the city. In a written statement, she thanked her supporters, volunteers, and family for standing by her during the campaign. She acknowledged that while the outcome was not what she hoped for, the voters had spoken.
The race remained competitive through the final hours before polls closed. Raman spent the last moments of the campaign urging voters to choose change, arguing that the city’s infrastructure and homelessness crisis had worsened since Bass took office. She cited specific issues, including 30,000 broken streetlights and deteriorating sidewalks, to justify her platform. "Los Angeles is ready for change," Raman told a crowd during her closing appeal.
Bass highlighted the challenges she faced during her term, including the post-pandemic recovery, wildfires, and federal interventions in local policing. She stated that she had called Raman to congratulate her on the victory and committed to ensuring a smooth transition of power. "Moving this city forward is what Los Angeles needs from all of us," Bass wrote.
The election result positions Raman as a leading figure among democratic socialists in major U.S. cities. She joins New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is currently serving in that role. Additionally, Janeese Lewis George was elected mayor of Washington, D.C., on Tuesday after running with little opposition. Katie Wilson also serves as mayor in Seattle, creating a cluster of progressive leaders in large metropolitan areas.
Raman’s victory carries implications for the city’s upcoming events, specifically the 2028 Olympic Games. The new administration will inherit the responsibility of hosting the international event while managing the city’s budget and infrastructure projects. The transition process will begin immediately following the certification of the results.
