Nitya Raman, a socialist candidate, is receiving notable backing from Hollywood as she attempts to unseat Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Contributors include well-known figures like Tina Fey and Colin Jost.
A recent profile highlighted Raman’s strong ties to the entertainment industry, largely due to her husband, TV writer and producer Valli Chandrasekaran, who has worked on shows like 30 Rock and Modern Family. Notable supporters include Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, Mike Schur, Colin Jost, Nicholas Stoller, Chord Jefferson, David Mandel, and others. In April, actor Adam Scott hosted a fundraiser for her at his home in Santa Monica.
“She wins because she does it right and she has a plan for everything,” Scott mentioned.
Interestingly, DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg is noticeably absent from the current political landscape. He had previously spent $2 million to help Bass defeat mall magnate Rick Caruso in 2022 and also invested in an affordable housing initiative in collaboration with Bass’ office.
After leading President Biden’s unsuccessful fundraising efforts in Hollywood for the 2024 campaign, Katzenberg has stepped back from politics and is no longer involved in Bass’ re-election bid, as noted by Variety.
A representative for Katzenberg stated that he is “taking a break from politics for some time.”
Despite Raman’s significant Hollywood backing, reality TV star Spencer Pratt has also garnered support, with contributions from figures like Katharine McPhee, David Foster, Haim Saban, Justin Bateman, and Jenny McCarthy. TV producers Craig Prestis, Jeff Jenkins, and Sandra Lee are among those supporting Pratt.
However, Raman appears to hold the majority of Hollywood’s backing, and her list of donors reflects a strong presence from the Writers Guild of America. On Thursday, a fundraiser is scheduled at Dynasty Typewriter, a comedy venue in Westlake, featuring a live table reading of One Harley Quinn: The Very Troubled Valentine’s Day Special, with performances by Lake Bell, Will Forte, Adam Devine, Bobby Moynihan, Chelsea Peretti, and Paul Shea.
