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Los Angeles Councilmember Raman Launches Surprise Mayoral Challenge Against Bass
Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman made a dramatic eleventh-hour entry into the city’s mayoral race on Saturday, launching a challenge against incumbent Karen Bass just hours before the filing deadline closed.
Raman, a progressive who represents the city’s 4th District, has not yet qualified for the ballot. To do so, candidates must either pay a $300 filing fee and submit at least 500 valid signatures or submit 1,000 valid signatures without a fee, according to the Los Angeles City Clerk’s office. The deadline for nominating petitions is March 4.
“I love this city so much and I think it needs a fighter. And I think I’ve demonstrated that I can be that fighter,” Raman said at her announcement press conference. “This is a city of extraordinary possibility, but possibility only matters if our leadership is accountable for delivering it, and I’m ready to lead this city with seriousness, with accountability, urgency and ambition that is equal to this moment.”
The surprise move sets up a potential high-stakes June primary between two political allies from the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, signaling growing divisions among Los Angeles progressives over the city’s direction.
Raman’s candidacy represents one of the most significant challenges to Bass, who took office in December 2022 as the first female mayor in Los Angeles history. Bass has focused her administration on tackling the city’s homelessness crisis and improving public safety, issues that continue to dominate voter concerns.
According to reports, Raman informed Bass of her intention to run before making the public announcement, highlighting the personal and political complexity of the challenge.
Bass’s campaign quickly responded through advisor Douglas Herman, who said: “The last thing Los Angeles needs is a politician who opposed cleaning up homeless encampments and efforts to make our city safer. Mayor Bass will continue changing L.A. by building on her track record delivering L.A.’s first sustained decrease in street homelessness, a 60-year low in homicides, and the most aggressive agenda our city has ever seen to make our city more affordable.”
Raman’s political positioning has evolved since her election to the City Council in 2020. While previously endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles chapter, the group voted to censure her in 2024 over her acceptance of an endorsement from Democrats for Israel–Los Angeles and disagreements related to the war in Gaza, indicating shifting alliances within progressive circles.
The mayoral race has drawn considerable interest, with a total of 40 candidates filing declarations of intention to run. Among the notable names are reality TV personality Spencer Pratt and housing advocate Rae Chen Huang. Pratt has been particularly vocal in his criticism of the current administration’s handling of city issues, especially emergency response.
Raman’s entry transforms what many expected to be a relatively easy reelection for Bass into a potentially competitive race that could divide Democratic voters and donors in the nation’s second-largest city.
Los Angeles faces numerous challenges, including a persistent homelessness crisis, housing affordability issues, and public safety concerns. The city has made progress under Bass’s leadership, with official statistics showing the first sustained decrease in street homelessness in years and a significant reduction in homicides.
The mayoral primary will take place in June, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election in November if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. The race is officially nonpartisan, though most viable candidates in Los Angeles typically align with the Democratic Party.
Political observers note that Raman’s challenge could force Bass to defend her record more vigorously and potentially push the mayor to address concerns from the progressive wing of the party as the campaign unfolds in the coming months.
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6 Comments
The mining and commodities sectors will be watching this race with interest, as LA’s policies could impact energy and resource industries. I wonder how the candidates’ positions on issues like lithium extraction, uranium processing, and copper production will factor in.
Good point. LA’s role as a hub for these industries means the mayoral race could have broader implications beyond just local politics.
This is an unexpected late entry into the race. Raman seems to be positioning herself as the more progressive, fighting option against the establishment candidate in Bass. It will be fascinating to see how their policy platforms compare on issues like mining, energy, and the environment.
Agreed, the policy details and priorities of each candidate will be crucial for stakeholders in the commodities and energy sectors.
Interesting to see this political shakeup in LA. Raman seems to be positioning herself as the more progressive candidate against the incumbent Mayor Bass. I’m curious to see how the primary plays out and what key issues will be at the forefront.
I agree, the progressive wing of the Democratic party in LA appears to be quite active and engaged. This primary could be a closely watched race.