Nithya Raman defeats Karen Bass to become Los Angeles mayor
Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the 2026 mayoral race, becoming the next mayor of the US second-largest city, AP, BBC and the Los Angeles Times reported after Bass conceded on 5 November.
Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the 2026 mayoral race, becoming the next mayor of the US second-largest city, AP, BBC and the Los Angeles Times reported after Bass conceded on 5 November.
Raman, India-born and backed by democratic socialists, led with roughly 52–53% to Bass’s 47–48% with most expected votes counted. She will be the first South Asian mayor of Los Angeles when she takes office in December.
Bass faced fallout over the city’s response to the 2025 wildfires. Raman campaigned on homelessness, housing and public safety. The next mayor will also oversee preparations for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Bass, also a Democrat, conceded on social media, writing that ‘the people of Los Angeles have spoken’. Raman, a city council member and Indian immigrant, has been compared to New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, as both are democratic socialists. She campaigned on cutting homelessness, building more housing and protecting residents from immigration enforcement. The next mayor will oversee the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics, BBC reported.