Democratic Socialist Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the race for the city's top job. Her victory shocked political observers in California, as she entered the contest as an underdog candidate against Bass.
Bass had previously served as a member of Congress and had never lost a political race. Also a Democrat, she was a prominent member of Congress before becoming the first Black mayor of Los Angeles. During the violent riots of 1992, sparked by police brutality in the beating of Rodney King, she worked as a community organiser.
In a social media post on Thursday, Bass announced that she had called Raman to concede defeat. "Although this is not the outcome we had hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken," Bass wrote. "Moving this city forward is what Los Angeles needs from all of us," she added. "I love Los Angeles. I believe in Los Angeles. And I will continue to fight to ensure the promise of a better life belongs to all of us," she said.
Raman is a city council member and an Indian immigrant. She ran on a platform of change and fixing the "broken status quo and politicians who have repeatedly let them down". She advocates for reducing homelessness, increasing housing construction in the city, saving jobs in Hollywood from constant cuts, and protecting residents from immigration enforcement. She promised to address numerous urban issues, including beautifying the city, repairing roads and restoring the nightlife.
Raman entered the race as an underdog but gradually built support, particularly among younger voters. In the primary earlier this year, she defeated reality TV star Spencer Pratt. She is often compared to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani; both are Democratic Socialists who ran on progressive platforms. The two largest US cities will now be led by Democratic Socialists. Los Angeles is the second most populous city in the US.
The main theme of the race was the 2025 Los Angeles fires, in which dozens of people died and neighbourhoods across the area were devastated. Bass faced intense political fallout due to her absence during the state of emergency and the city's response to the disaster. The new Los Angeles mayor will oversee the hosting of Super Bowl 2027 and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
Washington DC also elected Democratic Socialist Janeese Lewis George as its new mayor. US President Donald Trump, asked at the White House about the victories of left-wing Democratic politicians, said: "If you go by history, it will be a catastrophe". Such candidates have become a central target of Republican attacks.
