Nithya Raman Announces Candidacy for LA Mayor
Nithya Raman Launches Mayoral Campaign Amidst Incumbent Competition
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman officially announced her candidacy for mayor on Sunday, launching her campaign at the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center. This came as a surprise just weeks after she revealed her decision to challenge incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who is also a former ally.
Supporters gathered at the event for a campaign kickoff before volunteers fanned out into nearby neighborhoods to conduct door-to-door outreach.
“I’ve spent the last five years in City Hall, and I’ve tried so hard,” Raman stated during her announcement. “My team and I have tried so hard to intervene aggressively on the most urgent issues that this city is facing, our housing and homelessness crisis, building a better safety response, getting our basic services to work for people.” She expressed frustration with what she described as a "wall of reluctance" within City Hall that undermines transformative policy changes.
Raman attributed this reluctance to political caution and fear of alienating voters, which she believes is obstructing essential changes. “I see possibility everywhere and in everyone in this city. I know we can build the housing that we need to make this city affordable, to bring our neighborhoods back to life,” she said, emphasizing the city’s potential to address homelessness and enhance public safety.
Raman also called for a reallocation of the city’s budget to prioritize repairs of basic services and resist local impacts from unfavorable federal policies. She filed her candidacy paperwork last month in anticipation of the June 2 primary election, amid a dynamic landscape of potential challengers.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath recently announced she would not enter the race, opting to seek reelection for her position on the Board of Supervisors instead. Other notable figures stepping back include former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner, who cited family commitments following the loss of his daughter, and billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who decided against another bid after losing to Bass in the 2022 election.
The relationship between Raman and Bass has been described as strong, with Raman noting she had discussed her mayoral ambitions with Bass but chose to keep details of those conversations private.
“I do feel like Angelenos have really given us a lot of faith,” Raman remarked. “If we don’t show results to them, I think we will lose them. We are making decisions about our budget that are based on political calculations, as opposed to what is best for Angelenos.”
In response to Raman’s candidacy, Bass expressed her surprise, stating their longstanding alliance, especially in addressing homelessness, would continue. A campaign advisor for Bass criticized Raman’s platform, asserting that the city needs leadership focused on solutions rather than opposition.
Reflecting on her commitment to Los Angeles, Raman shared her personal journey, emphasizing her connection to the city. “I immigrated to this country, and I moved as an adult to this city, and LA has given my family and me everything. I want to make another commitment to you today. I give myself to the city once again,” she declared.
Among other challengers to Bass are reality television personality Spencer Pratt and community organizer Rae Huang, in addition to Adam Miller, a workforce education firm founder, who announced his candidacy last month.
Raman was elected to represent the Fourth Council District in 2020, re-elected in 2024, and currently chairs the council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, aligning with a group of progressive colleagues. Only two of the ten mayors in Los Angeles history have been denied a second term since the office transitioned to a four-year duration in 1925.
