Nithya Raman Advances to Face Karen Bass in LA Mayoral Runoff

Los Angeles Councilwoman Nithya Raman secured second place in the city's open primary mayoral race on June 9, 2026, allowing her to advance to the runoff against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Raman, who has focused her campaign on progressive policies, has emphasized issues such as homelessness, the high cost of living, and emergency response services. She is a career urban planner and the founder of the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, which aims to address homelessness in Los Angeles. Raman first won her City Council seat in 2020, defeating incumbent David Ryu with 52.9% of the vote. In the primary election, she received approximately 28.6% of the vote, while Bass led with about 34.3%. Raman's opponents have criticized her policies, labeling her as too radical for the city. The election has drawn significant media attention, particularly regarding the contrasting campaign styles of the candidates.