Los Angeles: Indian origin politician Nithya Raman has been projected to win the Los Angeles mayoral election, defeating incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a closely contested race that could bring a major political shift to the second largest city in the United States.
The projection by Decision Desk HQ, reported on Thursday, marks a significant victory for Raman, a progressive Democrat who challenged Bass on issues including homelessness, affordable housing and public safety. The election was held on November 3, with votes continuing to be counted over the following days.
Raman moved into the lead as additional ballots were counted after election night. Early results initially showed Bass ahead, but the position changed as more votes were included.
An earlier counting update reported 405,193 votes for Raman and 379,069 for Bass, giving Raman a lead of 26,124 votes. These figures represent an earlier count and should not be treated as the final certified results. The projection of Raman as the winner followed the changing vote count.
Raman's projected victory has attracted attention in India because of her Kerala roots. Born in Kerala in 1981, she moved to the United States with her family when she was six years old. She became a US citizen at the age of 22 and went on to build a career in urban planning and public service.
She studied at Harvard University and earned a master's degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before entering electoral politics, she worked on urban planning and civic issues, including sanitation and access to public services.
Raman founded Transparent Chennai, an organisation that focused on urban research and civic services in India. After moving to Los Angeles in 2013, she worked on local community issues and became involved in efforts to support people experiencing homelessness.
She was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2020, representing the city's Fourth District. Her political profile grew through her work on housing, homelessness and other urban issues.
The mayoral contest was particularly significant because Raman and Bass had previously been political allies. Raman had supported Bass before deciding to challenge her for the city's top elected position. She entered the mayoral race in February 2026, turning the contest into a major disagreement within the city's Democratic Party.
Bass, 73, became mayor in December 2022 after a long political career that included serving in the US House of Representatives and the California State Legislature. She received support from prominent Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Raman received support from progressive organisations, including the Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution and the Sierra Club. Her campaign presented her as a candidate who could bring a different approach to the city's long standing problems.
Homelessness was one of the central issues in the election. Los Angeles has faced a serious housing crisis, with large numbers of people living in tents and on city streets.
Bass defended her administration's efforts to move people into shelters and reduce homelessness. Her administration reported an 11 per cent decline in unsheltered homelessness.
However, Raman criticised the city's approach and argued that more effective solutions were needed. She pledged to reduce street homelessness across the city by half by summer 2028. She also supported expanding medical services for people living on the streets and improving access to permanent housing.
Public safety and policing were other major issues during the campaign. Bass supported strengthening police recruitment and maintaining the Los Angeles Police Department's existing capacity.
Raman had previously supported reducing the size of the police department and questioned its spending. During the campaign, however, she said the department should maintain its existing staffing level. She also proposed replacing Police Chief Jim McDonnell, a position that attracted criticism from Bass and police representatives.
The police union warned that Raman's approach could create difficulties for the department, particularly as the city prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games.
The January 2025 Palisades Fire also became an important issue during the campaign. The devastating wildfire destroyed homes and caused widespread damage in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
Bass faced criticism because she was outside the United States on a diplomatic mission when the fire began. Questions were subsequently raised about the city's emergency preparedness and response. Raman used the controversy to challenge the incumbent mayor's leadership.
Raman's projected victory adds to the growing visibility of progressive politicians in major American cities, following the election of Zohran Mamdani in New York. Her success reflects the growing influence of candidates who support changes to housing, policing and public services. However, the political circumstances and priorities in each city are different.
If the projection is confirmed, Raman will face several major responsibilities, including addressing homelessness, improving housing affordability and maintaining public safety. She will also have to oversee preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, which Los Angeles is scheduled to host.
The international sporting event will place additional demands on the city's transport systems, infrastructure, security and public services.
Raman's projected victory therefore represents more than a change in political leadership. It gives Los Angeles an opportunity to pursue a different approach to some of its most difficult problems, while placing significant expectations on the incoming administration.
The election authorities will continue the official process of counting and certifying the results.