Nithya Raman declared winner in AP-called Los Angeles mayoral race
Karen Bass conceded after an AP race call for Raman, though the available material does not include official certification.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Nithya Raman was declared the winner of the Los Angeles mayoral race in an Associated Press call reported Thursday, after incumbent Karen Bass conceded. The Nithya Raman LA mayor race result would make the City Council member the city’s first South Asian and Asian American mayor, according to multiple news reports, but the available material does not include official certification.
ABC7, citing Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk figures, reported that Raman had 429,450 votes, or 52.1%, to Bass’s 394,796 votes, or 47.9%, as of Thursday morning. Its results page listed 76% of expected vote reporting, meaning those figures were not final.
What were the latest reported results in the Los Angeles mayor race?
The Associated Press projected Raman as the winner shortly before noon Thursday, ABC7 reported. Al Jazeera also reported the AP call, with Raman holding 52% at that point.
Bass said she had called Raman to congratulate her and pledged a smooth transition, according to ABC7 and Al Jazeera. Raman said she had spoken with Bass and thanked voters and campaign volunteers in a statement reported by ABC7.
Who is Nithya Raman?
Raman is a Los Angeles City Council member and a former urban planner. NBC News reported that she is part of the Democratic Socialists of America; Al Jazeera described her campaign as backed by the organization.
She was born in India and moved to the United States as a child, NBC News reported. Her challenge to Bass came after Raman had endorsed Bass earlier in the year, before launching a late campaign for mayor.
What issues did the campaign focus on?
Housing affordability, homelessness and public safety were central issues in the contest, according to The 19th and NBC News. Raman had criticized Bass’s handling of homelessness and rising housing prices, NBC News reported; those were campaign arguments rather than independently established findings.
In her post-election statement, Raman identified affordable housing, parks, transit, safety for working people and families, and a city government able to meet its commitments as priorities, ABC7 reported. Al Jazeera also reported that she pledged more affordable housing, better city services and more medical teams to assist people experiencing homelessness.
If the reported result is confirmed, Raman would face those issues while Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games. NBC News said the event will bring demands involving infrastructure, public transportation and security.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.