Los Angeles voters are projected to elect councilmember Nithya Raman as the city’s next mayor, according to NBC News. The latest county election figures show Raman leading with 52.1% (429,450 votes) against incumbent Karen Bass’s 47.9% (394,796 votes). The count, now at 76% of the expected total, reflects a growing margin for Raman since early Wednesday.
Election timeline and vote trends
Raman, 45, first secured a lead of 52% to 48% in the Wednesday night results and expanded that advantage Thursday morning. The trend of increasing support mirrors earlier polling that showed Raman pulling ahead as larger batches of ballots were tallied. Dr. Fernando Guerra, a political analyst for NBC Los Angeles, noted that the lead is likely to grow as more votes are counted.
Background of the candidates
Karen Bass, seeking a second term, has never lost an election in Los Angeles, Sacramento or Washington, D.C. She previously defeated real‑estate developer Rick Caruso in 2022 and enjoyed broad council support. Bass’s campaign highlighted her experience and past achievements, including a billion‑dollar contract to raise police salaries and a major downtown convention‑center modernization project.
Raman, a former councilmember from Silver Lake, entered the race after challenging Bass in the June primary, where Bass earned 34% and Raman 29% of the vote. Raman’s platform emphasizes fixing what she calls a “broken city,” improving basic services, expanding affordable housing, lowering the cost of living, and supporting the entertainment industry.
Key issues and campaign dynamics
The race featured sharp debate over public safety, homelessness, and housing. Bass’s team criticized Raman’s intent to replace LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, while Raman’s campaign faced scrutiny for a social‑media video that labeled Bass and the chief as “fascist liars.” The video was later removed, and Raman’s team said the edits were made without her knowledge.
Raman’s supporters point to her background in urban planning (MIT) and her work founding the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition. She also served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment, an organization fighting sexual harassment in Hollywood.
Polling and voter sentiment
A recent UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, co‑sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, showed both candidates at roughly 40% support among likely voters, with 19% undecided. Earlier polls gave Raman a double‑digit lead. The shift appears to stem from a decline in undecided voters, particularly among those who previously backed reality‑TV star Spencer Pratt in the June primary.
In the October poll, 41% of Pratt’s supporters said they would back Bass, while 14% favored Raman; 45% remained undecided. The poll surveyed 2,197 likely Los Angeles voters online in English and Spanish, with a margin of error of about three percentage points.
What the result means for Los Angeles
If Raman is sworn in this December, Los Angeles will join New York and Washington, D.C. as major U.S. cities led by officials with backing from democratic‑socialist groups. Raman’s victory could signal a desire among Angelenos for new approaches to homelessness, housing affordability, and city services.
Both candidates have expressed gratitude to their supporters. Bass praised her years of service, noting the honor of leading the city that raised her family. Raman thanked voters for choosing hope over what she described as a “broken and unjust status quo,” promising to say “yes” to progress for the city.
Looking ahead
Raman’s projected win sets the stage for a transition period in which the new mayor‑elect will outline her administration’s priorities. City officials and community groups will be watching closely as Los Angeles prepares for a leadership change that could reshape policy on housing, public safety, and economic development.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
