India-born Nithya Raman defeats Karen Bass in LA mayoral race

South China Morning Post · Agence France-Presse · 2026-11-05 21:01 UTC

Incumbent concedes as DSA-backed progressive prepares to take the helm of the nation’s second-largest city ahead of 2028 Olympics.

Democratic socialist Nithya Raman ousted incumbent Democrat Karen Bass to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, ending a heated race that saw the one-time allies spar over frustration with the status quo.

Bass called Raman on Thursday to concede, after the latest numbers showed Raman with 52 per cent of the vote against the outgoing mayor’s 48 per cent, with three-quarters of votes counted.

“I’m deeply honoured to be your next mayor,” said Raman, 45, in a statement on social media.

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