LA Police Union Launches Campaign Against Nithya Raman

The Los Angeles Police Protective League has kicked off a significant advertising and canvassing effort aimed at 300,000 homes in an attempt to defeat mayoral candidate Nithya Raman. This union alleges that Raman, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, operates under an anti-police agenda. They point to her previous votes against a billion-dollar raise for the police union and her stance on hiring initiatives as evidence.

In other news, a recent poll suggests that Democratic Socialists of America member Nithya Raman has gained a notable lead—10 points—over Democratic Mayor Karen Bass as Election Day approaches in about six weeks. The poll, conducted by the University of California Berkeley Institute of Government Studies and released on Wednesday, shows Raman with 39% support among likely voters in Los Angeles, while Bass trails at 28%.

This survey, which also reveals that a third of voters remain undecided, certainly stirs up conversation just ahead of the mail-in ballot distribution scheduled for the November 3 election.

“It’s quite rare to have such a high number of undecided voters this late in the game,” remarked poll director Mark DiCamillio.

Interestingly, many of the undecided voters had initially supported Spencer Pratt, a conservative candidate and reality TV star who, despite generating significant interest, was eliminated during the June primary, finishing third with 26% of the vote. Bass and Raman secured first and second places with 34% and 29%, respectively, allowing them to move on to the general election.

The poll indicates that 63% of Pratt’s supporters are still undecided on whom to support in the general election, with only 22% favoring Bass and 16% leaning towards Raman.

Pratt, reflecting on the poll results, expressed that he always believed Raman would outperform Bass if given the chance. He suggested that Raman’s last-minute entry into the race was strategic, noting, “She knew I was gonna destroy Bass 1-on-1. Good luck LA.” He also criticized Raman for a perceived betrayal against Bass, implying a lack of morals within the Democratic Socialists.

On another front, the poll reveals that Bass faces significant challenges; she currently holds a 63% unfavorable rating among Los Angeles voters, with only 28% viewing her positively. In comparison, Raman enjoys a more favorable image, with 40% of voters viewing her positively, although 39% still have an unfavorable opinion of her.

A notable split is evident along generational lines. The 45-year-old Raman is clearly favored by younger voters aged 18 to 39, while Bass performs better among those aged 65 and above, leading by 20 points in that demographic.

Recently, Raman received the endorsement of the DSA’s Los Angeles chapter and support from several local unions, showcasing her appeal among progressive voters. Conversely, Bass has the backing of various congressional members and LA County officials.

This survey was carried out online, polling 2,150 likely voters from September 15 to September 20, with a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.

Following the poll’s release, Raman was quick to share her victory optimism on social media, stating, “Big news! In the latest Berkeley/LA Times poll, we’ve surged ahead of Mayor Bass with an 11-point lead. This poll reflects the momentum we’re seeing on the ground. Angelenos are ready for change, but we can’t take our foot off the gas!”

Bass, not dismissing the challenge, responded critically to the poll results, pointing out the survey’s tendency to distort outcomes in the past. “One outlier poll, which got the June primary wrong, means very little with 40 days to go,” she emphasized, declaring her commitment to the race.