Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the November 3 Los Angeles mayoral election, securing 52.70 per cent of the votes and making history as the city’s first Indian-American and South Asian mayor.
At A Glance:
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Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Karen Bass to win the Los Angeles mayoral election with 52.70 per cent of the votes.
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Her victory makes her the first Indian-American and South Asian mayor of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States.
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Raman’s campaign focused on housing affordability, homelessness, better civic services and changes to policing.
Kerala-born Nithya Raman has scripted history by winning the Los Angeles mayoral election, defeating incumbent Karen Bass to become the first Indian-American elected to lead the second-largest city in the United States.
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The urban planner and city council member secured 460,772 votes, representing 52.70 per cent of the total. Bass received 413,519 votes, accounting for 47.30 per cent, according to the latest Los Angeles County election figures updated at 4:34 p.m. local time.
Raman’s victory also makes her the first South Asian mayor of Los Angeles. Her election marks a significant milestone in a political career that began with her entry into the city council in 2020.
The latest figures placed her ahead of Bass by 47,253 votes, widening her advantage from the 34,654-vote margin recorded in the morning update. However, the results remain unofficial as election officials continue processing ballots from Tuesday’s election.
Karen Bass Concedes Defeat, Promises Smooth Transition
Bass has conceded the election and congratulated Raman on her victory, bringing the closely watched mayoral contest to a decisive stage.
In a post on X, the outgoing mayor confirmed that she had spoken to Raman and assured her of her cooperation during the transfer of power.
“I’ve called Councilmember Raman to congratulate her, and I’m committed to a smooth transition,” Bass said.
She also thanked her supporters and reaffirmed her commitment to working for Los Angeles.
Raman acknowledged Bass’s gesture and said she had spoken with the outgoing mayor. She expressed gratitude for Bass’s leadership and decades of public service.
Taking to X on Thursday, the mayor-elect expressed her happiness over the mandate.
“Los Angeles, I am deeply honored to be your next mayor,” Raman wrote.
Immigrant Journey Draws Political Recognition
Raman’s victory has drawn attention to her immigrant background and political journey. Several political leaders have highlighted the significance of her achievement while pointing to the challenges awaiting her administration.
Los Angeles City Council member Adrin Nazarian congratulated Raman and recalled their shared experience of immigrating to the United States and building new lives.
He described her journey from representing Council District 4 to winning the mayoral election as an example of the American dream.
Nazarian also expressed his willingness to work with the incoming mayor on several pressing issues. These include rising living costs, growing financial pressure on middle-class families, public transportation and efforts to retain entertainment industry jobs in Los Angeles.
He also acknowledged Bass’s contribution to public life, recalling her earlier roles as a state legislator and congresswoman. Bass made history as the first Black woman to serve as Los Angeles mayor.
Public Safety Remains a Key Priority
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman also congratulated Raman and thanked Bass for her service. His response focused on the importance of public safety and cooperation between city authorities and law enforcement agencies.
“Public safety is a shared responsibility, and I look forward to working with the new mayor and her team to keep every Angeleno safe,” Hochman said in a statement.
He assured that his office would continue pursuing criminal cases based on facts, law and evidence.
Hochman also offered to work with Raman and her team on public safety initiatives. He made it clear that the change in political leadership would not alter his office’s approach to criminal prosecutions.
Housing and Homelessness Central to Raman’s Campaign
Raman built her mayoral campaign around three major concerns: affordable housing, homelessness and better municipal services.
Her agenda also addressed everyday civic problems affecting residents. According to LAist, her commitments included improving the repair of potholes and streetlights, alongside changes to policing.
These issues will form important tests for her incoming administration as she prepares to take charge of the sprawling American city.
The endorsements and congratulatory messages following her victory have also highlighted expectations surrounding her ability to address economic pressures, improve public services and strengthen public safety.
From Kerala to Los Angeles City Hall
Born in India, Raman moved to the United States with her family when she was six years old. She graduated from Harvard University and later earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Before entering electoral politics, she worked on homelessness-related issues and co-founded the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition.
Her political breakthrough came in 2020 when she won election to the Los Angeles City Council. She became the first Asian-American woman and the first South Asian elected to the council.
Raman retained her seat in the 2024 election before securing the mayoral victory.
Her latest electoral success marks another major step in her political journey, taking her from an immigrant background and community-level activism to the leadership of one of America’s most prominent cities.