Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass on Nov. 5, becoming the city’s first South Asian mayor and the second-largest U.S. city’s leader. Raman, a Democratic socialist backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, won after Democrats scored resounding Election Day victories nationwide; she campaigned against what she called the status quo.
WHO:
Nithya Raman
WHAT:
Raman defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race. NBC News and CBS News projected her victory; Bass conceded by phone Thursday. With three-quarters of votes counted, Raman led 52% to 48%. Raman, 45, is a Los Angeles City Council member and the city’s first South Asian mayor. She was the first Democratic Socialists of America-affiliated member of the City Council and will lead the second-largest U.S. city. The outcome means New York and Los Angeles will be led by democratic socialists. She is a democratic socialist backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and was the first DSA-affiliated member of the Los Angeles City Council.
WHEN:
Nov 5, 2026
WHERE:
Los Angeles, USA
WHY:
Raman campaigned against what she called the status quo. Her victory came after resounding Democratic victories across the country on Election Day.
Reporting from 10 identified publishers across this event arc.
