Nithya Raman to become L.A. mayor despite unanimous council opposition

Nithya Raman is set to become the next mayor of Los Angeles, a victory that secures her position despite the unanimous opposition of her City Council colleagues. All of Raman’s peers on the council endorsed incumbent Karen Bass, making Raman’s win a distinct outlier in the city’s recent political history. The result is now clear even as some ballots remain in the count.

Voters expressed a desire for change after four years of Bass’ administration. Robert Martinez, a retired IT worker, voted for Raman at the Eagle Rock Rec Center on Tuesday. Martinez cited the continuing homelessness epidemic and the deteriorating condition of the city as primary reasons for his choice. He stated that he hoped a different approach would yield better results than the previous term.

Raman’s campaign gained momentum among young progressives who supported her as a positive choice rather than a vote against Bass. Her path to the top was complicated by her own political maneuvers. She recently reversed her earlier endorsement of Bass, a move that triggered skepticism within City Hall. She also changed her stance on Bass’ homelessness strategy, a plan Raman had previously implemented before criticizing it for its cost and slow pace.

Support for Bass had eroded significantly in the final months. The incumbent’s unfavorability rating was high, and undecided voters nearly matched the number of committed supporters for either candidate. Bass had left the city in January 2025, a decision that drew criticism given the fire conditions in Pacific Palisades. Her administration spent billions on homelessness but showed limited progress, leaving the homeless count above 40,000.

Raman faces a complex set of challenges as she prepares to take office. The city’s roads and sidewalks are in poor repair, and the reconstruction of the Palisades area remains a lengthy process. Housing development is slow, and the cost of living continues to strain residents. The city also faces a tight budget and the approaching 2028 Olympics. A measure to increase funding for parks has passed, adding to the financial pressures on city departments.

Political experts describe the city’s governance as tangled and confusing. Tom Hogen-Esch, a political science professor at Cal State Northridge, noted that solving these problems is difficult even in ideal conditions. He emphasized the complexity of the governmental system in Los Angeles. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, a potential ally for Raman, acknowledged the daunting nature of the challenges. She stated that Raman’s entry into the race was not a secret regarding the scope of the work ahead.

Horvath said Raman’s strategy focused on building power by acknowledging voter exasperation rather than forming traditional coalitions. Raman plans to increase housing production, add bike lanes, and replace the current police chief. She intends to manage the city using data to assess effectiveness. Her background as a council member involved identifying overlapping services and broken lines of communication in homelessness response efforts.

In her district, homelessness has declined, and Raman has criticized the mayor’s efforts for their high cost and low returns. She is not afraid of tough conversations, according to Horvath. Raman’s approach favors greater housing density and opposes bans on homelessness in specific public areas. This stance prioritizes solving problems over relocating them. Nearly half of voters expressed wariness about Raman moving the city’s policy too far to the left, as reflected in the tight election results.

Voters in various neighborhoods expressed mixed feelings about the outcome. Aurora Corona, a retired airline attendant in Pico-Union, voted for Bass but wants a shakeup. She cited lack of progress on trash and infrastructure. Jon Manzanares in Studio City, who spent five years reporting problems at an abandoned property, voted for Raman. He felt Bass had her shot and did not do enough. A fire at the property in September prompted both candidates to visit and blame each other. Manzanares wants a mayor who demands more accountability for the money spent on entrenched problems.

Christian Grose, a USC political science professor, noted that Mayor Daniel Lurie of San Francisco won support by cleaning streets and moving people indoors while working on long-term solutions. Raman could attempt a similar formula to capitalize on a honeymoon period with voters. The city now looks to Raman to address the bureaucratic issues that have persisted for years. Nearly four million residents await the changes she promises.