“Los Angeles, I am deeply honored to be your next mayor. I love this city. I believe in its people. And I cannot wait to get to work, together. Thank you, LA!” said Nithya Raman, the next Mayor of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles has elected a new mayor. Nithya Raman, a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the Fourth District, defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the November 3 election, marking a significant change in the city’s political leadership.
Bass conceded the race on November 5 after election results showed Raman with approximately 52% of the vote compared to Bass’s 48%. Raman’s victory makes her the first challenger in more than two decades to defeat a sitting Los Angeles mayor.
An urban planner by training, Raman brings an academic and community organizing background to her new position. An immigrant to the United States from India, she earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a graduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Her involvement in Los Angeles began at the neighborhood level. As a working mother, Raman became increasingly concerned about the growing homelessness crisis and the challenges facing local communities. She served as Co-Chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Homelessness Committee and co-founded the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, an organization focused on providing direct assistance to people experiencing homelessness.
In 2020, Raman entered the City Council race as an independent political newcomer. Her grassroots campaign mobilized approximately 2,000 volunteers who knocked on more than 80,000 doors. She defeated incumbent David Ryu, becoming the first Asian American woman and first South Asian person elected to the Los Angeles City Council.
During her time representing the Fourth District, Raman focused on affordable housing, tenant protections, homelessness, environmental initiatives and government accountability.
Her legislative work included housing and zoning reforms intended to accelerate construction, changes to the city’s permitting process, expanded renter protections and measures addressing displacement. She also advocated for greater oversight of public spending on homelessness and improved coordination between city departments and service providers.
Now, as mayor-elect, Raman has outlined priorities that include building affordable housing, creating more parks and recreational spaces, improving public transportation, strengthening neighborhood safety and making city government more accountable to residents.
In her first statement following the election, Raman acknowledged the responsibility of leading Los Angeles and paid tribute to outgoing Mayor Karen Bass, recognizing her decades of public service.
She also addressed residents who supported Bass or did not participate in the election, saying she intends to work to earn their confidence.
Raman lives in Silver Lake with her husband and their twins.
As Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the new mayor will take office facing significant challenges involving housing affordability, homelessness, public infrastructure, public safety and the city’s long-term development.
For Raman, the transition from neighborhood organizer and urban planner to the city’s highest elected office represents a new chapter in her public service and a new direction for Los Angeles.
