Los Angeles City Council Member Challenges Mayor in Upcoming Election

Nitya Raman, a Democratic City Council member in Los Angeles and a self-identified socialist, revealed on Saturday her intention to run against Mayor Karen Bass, who is seeking re-election in June.

Raman, an immigrant from India, has been on the city council since 2020, after winning the Democratic primary against an incumbent. On the other hand, Bass, a former congresswoman, has been in office as mayor since 2022. She has faced significant criticism lately regarding her handling of the mid-2025 riots linked to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as the massive wildfires that struck the Pacific Palisades area in January of the same year.

Raman declared her candidacy just hours before the noon PT deadline on Saturday.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, she referred to Bass as an “icon” of the left and acknowledged that there is “significant consensus” on various issues. However, Raman expressed concerns, saying, “But especially in the last few months, I’m really starting to feel that unless we make some big changes to the way we do things in Los Angeles, what we’re expecting isn’t going to work anymore.”

Raman emphasized that the city is “reaching a breaking point,” and that “people are feeling it in the most basic ways,” according to reports from The New York Times.

Both Raman’s and Bass’s offices did not immediately provide comments when approached for feedback.

As chair of the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, Raman is deeply involved in addressing the city’s ongoing homelessness crisis, which has worsened during Bass’s time in office.

The mayoral election in Los Angeles is set for June 2nd, with a runoff planned for November if no candidate secures a simple majority of the votes. This election coincides with the federal and California gubernatorial elections in 2026. The two top candidates from the June election, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to the runoff.

With the filing deadline behind them, the leading candidates now include Bass, Raman, and Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star from “The Hills,” who lost his home in the Palisades fire. Pratt, who is registered as a Republican, may find it challenging to win in a predominantly Democratic city.

Raman is not the only socialist in the race; Pastor Lei Huang, another candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is also vying for the position with the aim of unseating Bass.

Former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner was also a contender but exited the race after the tragic loss of his daughter at 22, which disrupted the political landscape.

Rick Caruso, a Democratic businessman and billionaire who competed against Bass in the 2022 runoff, stated just before the submission deadline that he would not pursue a rematch.

In recent times, a number of socialists have sought leadership roles in major cities, mostly registering as Democrats. While some like Democratic New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani and Democratic Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson have found success, others such as Democratic Minnesota State Sen. Omar Fateh have faced challenges.