Nithya Raman Wins Los Angeles Mayoral Race After Karen Bass Concedes

Nithya Raman has won the election for mayor of Los Angeles. Incumbent Karen Bass conceded the race on Thursday morning. This marks a change in city leadership after a contest that remained tight through the final vote counts. Bass confirmed the result in a formal statement, stating that Los Angeles voters made their choice clear.

Bass said the outcome was not what her team anticipated. She reported that she had already contacted Raman to offer congratulations. The outgoing mayor said she would work to ensure a smooth transfer of power. She argued that moving the city forward requires a unified effort from all local leaders.

Raman entered the race in February. She was not expected to win for much of the primary. She appeared likely to finish third behind Spencer Pratt. Raman built support among voters who were unhappy with the current administration. She presented herself as a new Democratic option. This momentum carried her into the general election.

Early results on election night showed Bass with a slight lead. The margin was too small to account for late-arriving ballots. These ballots often skew toward younger voters and renters. Raman had strong appeal with these groups. As the counting continued, Raman took the lead. Her advantage widened in the hours after the polls closed.

By Thursday morning, Raman held a lead of 4.2 percentage points. Thousands of ballots were still being counted. The final numbers remained in flux until the end. The close race reflected deep divisions in the city regarding future governance and policy priorities.

Bass focused her campaign on public safety. She warned voters that Raman had opposed certain police funding measures. Bass also said Raman was against anti-camping zones. Raman positioned herself as a fresh voice. She argued that the city needed leadership not bound by existing relationships within City Hall.

Polling data showed a tight race throughout the fall. Raman led in several surveys. A poll by Berkeley IGS and the L.A. Times on October 28 showed the candidates tied. Each candidate received 40 percent of voter support. This parity mirrored the actual outcome, where the margin stayed slim until the last votes were tallied.

Raman addressed her supporters after 11 p.m. on Tuesday night. The event took place in the plaza of the L.A. Greek Theatre. She told the crowd that she was very hopeful for the future. This moment concluded a campaign that saw her rise from a late entrant to the victor in the city’s top race.

Raman has served on the Los Angeles City Council since 2020. She is the first Asian-American woman and the first South Asian to hold that seat. She was re-elected for a second term in 2024. She holds degrees from Harvard and MIT. She worked as an urban planner before entering politics. Her background includes work with the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council and the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition.

Raman received support from the Hollywood community during her mayoral run. She received endorsements and financial contributions from Tina Fey, Adam Scott, Mindy Kaling, Mike Schur, Colin Jost, Nicholas Stoller, Cord Jefferson, and David Mandel. Bass has served as mayor since 2022. She faced challenges retaining voters concerned about homelessness, civic disorder, and the city's response to the 2025 Palisades fire.