Democratic · California
Nithya Raman
Los Angeles City Councilmember, District 4; 2026 candidate for mayor
Too close to callNithya Raman, a Los Angeles city councilmember, led incumbent Mayor Karen Bass 51.7% to 48.3% in the Nov. 3, 2026 mayoral runoff as of Wednesday afternoon, with about 67% of expected ballots counted. NBC News says the race is too close to call.
2026 race
Mayor of Los Angeles (nonpartisan runoff)
Result Too close to call Leading, too close to call: Raman 51.7%, Bass 48.3% (~67% counted, Nov. 4)
Biography
Raman, an urban planner and self-described Democratic socialist, has represented LA's 4th Council District since 2020, when she unseated incumbent David Ryu; she was reelected in 2024. On the council she has pushed reforms to increase housing supply. She trailed by a few thousand votes when polls closed and moved ahead as later ballots were counted. All 14 of her council colleagues endorsed Bass.
Positions
- Increase housing supply
- Has said she plans to fire LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell (NBC Los Angeles)
Record
- LA City Council, District 4, since 2020
- Reelected 2024
- Advanced from the 2026 primary to face Mayor Karen Bass
Life & background
- She was born in Kerala, India. [Source]
- She holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard and a master's in urban planning from MIT. [Source]