Raman secured an unassailable 25,000-vote lead against incumbent Karen Bass following a dramatic comeback from a third-place standing in the initial primary returns. Bass struggled to defend her seat amid intense scrutiny over her absence during the deadly January 2025 Palisades wildfire, despite endorsements from national party leaders like Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom. Raman's winning platform prioritized accountable municipal governance, expanded housing initiatives, and enhanced public services.
Key points
America's two largest cities will simultaneously feature mayors of Indian heritage with R…: America's two largest cities will simultaneously feature mayors of Indian heritage with Raman joining New York's Zohran Mamdani.
The Los Angeles election result represents a significant municipal victory for the Democr…: The Los Angeles election result represents a significant municipal victory for the Democratic Socialists of America.
Raman successfully defeated an establishment-backed incumbent who carried endorsements fr…: Raman successfully defeated an establishment-backed incumbent who carried endorsements from high-profile figures including Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsom.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
TOI correspondent from Washington: Nithya Raman stood before supporters at a downtown Los Angeles brewery in June, struggling to hold back tears. The early primary election returns had placed her third in the race for mayor, behind incumbent Karen Bass and reality tv personality Spencer Pratt, and it looked like the end of the road for her. She gave what was almost a concession speech. Her father Venkit Raman, an IITian, comforted campaign workers, telling them her full name Nithya Varsha means 'everlasting monsoon,' and her political life would be replenished soon.
It came sooner than anyone expected because after all this is the la la land of Hollywood where plot twists are common. And appropriately too enough considering her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, is a successful television writer and producer whose credits include 30 Rock and Modern Family. A batch of late ballots that came in took Raman past Pratt to second place, and because Bass did not get 50 per cent of the vote, there would be a run-off election in November. Even then, few gave the 45-year old…
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