Nithya Raman Set to Become Los Angeles Mayor, Defeating Incumbent Karen Bass

Nithya Raman is projected to become the 44th mayor of Los Angeles, according to Decision Desk H.Q. The polling site, which partners with Ballotpedia, called the race on November 3. Raman leads incumbent Karen Bass by more than three percentage points. Approximately three-quarters of the expected votes have been tallied. Other major news organizations, including NBC News, had not yet called the contest at the time of the projection.

The full vote count may not be finalized for another week or longer. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day remain valid even if they arrive by early next week. A victory for Raman would unseat Bass, a fellow Democrat who faced growing criticism over housing affordability, the entertainment industry's exodus, and her response to the Palisades wildfire.

Raman, 45, runs as an outsider against the local party machine. She is a Harvard and MIT trained urban planner who founded a homeless nonprofit in Los Angeles. She previously served as executive director of Time's Up before winning her City Council seat in 2020. Her district covers parts of the San Fernando Valley, including Sherman Oaks and Studio City, as well as the Hollywood Hills and Eastside neighborhoods like Los Feliz and Silver Lake. The area includes the Hollywood Bowl, the Hollywood Sign, and NBCUniversal.

Raman was born in India and would become the city's first Asian American mayor. Her campaign drew substantial support from the television comedy community. Donors included Tina Fey, Mike Schur, Mindy Kaling, and Cord Jefferson. She is married to Vali Chandrasekaran, a writer-producer known for work on 30 Rock, Modern Family, My Name is Earl, and The Four Seasons. The couple has twin children who are 10 years old.

Both candidates pledged to support unlimited film and tax credits at the state level and a federal tax incentive to improve U.S. competitiveness. Raman criticized Bass for being slow to appoint a film liaison to the industry. Questions remain regarding Raman's record in advocating for Hollywood's needs during the city's historic decline in production. The entertainment sector's downturn has impacted the local economy broadly.

Raman's policy focus in office has centered on housing. She championed Measure ULA, known as the Mansion Tax, but later criticized its unintended effects on apartment construction. She has since pushed for reform of the legislation. Her campaign positioned her to the left of Bass, including a sit-down interview with streamer Hasan Piker and a complex relationship with the Democratic Socialists of America. DSA L.A. censured her in 2024 over her stance on Israel but ultimately endorsed her in the mayoral race. The national DSA leadership challenged that local endorsement.

Bass, 73, was Los Angeles' first female mayor and second Black mayor. She spent more than a decade in Congress representing a largely African American and Hispanic section of South Los Angeles. She considered a run for vice president in 2020 under Joe Biden. Her reelection campaign featured prominent supporters such as Jane Fonda, J.J. Abrams, Samuel L. Jackson, and Anthony Anderson.

The primary election was defined by the populist run of former reality TV star Spencer Pratt. He gained national attention for his campaign focused on grievance politics after losing his home in the Palisades wildfire. Real estate developer Rick Caruso, a center-right Democrat who lost to Bass in 2022, remained an influential figure in the cycle. Despite criticizing Bass's handling of the Palisades disaster, Caruso announced in October that he would vote for her.

Raman's term will overlap with the 2028 Summer Olympics. The event offers a chance for the city to refresh its image. Kathleen Kennedy, former head of Lucasfilm, now oversees the ceremonies after Peter Rice moved to become Netflix's chief content officer.