ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Nithya Raman clinches spot in LA mayoral runoffs
Raman, a former close aide and supporter of incumbent Mayor Bass, is now gearing up for the Nov. 3 runoff election.
-
Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Tue, 09, Jun 2026
- 00:34 EDT
- 40
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman / Wikimedia commons
Indian-origin LA mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has secured her spot in the upcoming November runoff election after finishing second in the mayoral primary.
Raman, who was trailing both incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, who is still holding the top position, and TV host Spencer Pratt when the votes were counted on Election Day, experienced a dramatic momentum shift once the mail-in ballots started being counted.
The race was called in Raman's favor by both The Associated Press and CNN late on June 8.
As the standings are right now, Bass leads with 34.4% of the vote, and Raman is trailing with 28.5%. The two Democrats will now advance to face off in November in a Democrats-only finale after defeating Pratt, the top GOP candidate.
Mail-in ballots with a June 2 Election Day postmark will continue to be accepted by county election officials through June 9, making it a prolonged battle between Raman and Pratt that could potentially go down to the wire.
ALSO READ: IA Impact endorses Nithya Raman for LA mayor
Accepting the mandate, Raman said on X, "I'm incredibly honored that voters have given us the opportunity to advance to the general election for mayor of Los Angeles."
She continued, "Now our fight for a healthier, safer, more affordable, and more joyful Los Angeles continues. For too long, City Hall has prioritized giving political advantage to powerful interests that fund elections. Meanwhile, working people pay the price in higher rents, depleted services, and a city that has stopped working for them."
Raman, a former close aide and supporter of incumbent Mayor Bass, is now gearing up for the Nov. 3 runoff election.
Raman has attacked Bass' policies on multiple fronts since announcing her candidacy. She criticized the existing homelessness strategies, including Bass' "Inside Safe" program, calling for changes in spending and approach.
She has also decried the sitting mayor's positions and policies on housing, cost of living and crime, among other issues.
Raman is an urban planner by training and a homelessness activist. She became the first woman sworn in to the LA City Council in 2022. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in urban planning from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login