Nithya Raman Defeats Karen Bass to Become Los Angeles Mayor

Nithya Raman defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral election, according to projections reported on November 5, 2026. Raman, a 45-year-old City Council member and democratic socialist, secured the victory over Bass, 73, in a race that marked a significant shift for the city.

The result was one of several progressive wins in the 2026 cycle that accompanied Democratic gains nationally. Raman’s campaign emphasized housing, public safety, and local economic issues. Bass had sought a second term after taking office in 2022. The contest drew attention as one of the highest-profile municipal races alongside the congressional midterms.

NBC News and the New York Times reported the outcome as Raman pulled ahead in late returns. The victory adds to a set of local results in which candidates associated with the left wing of the Democratic Party prevailed in major cities. Raman will take office in the coming weeks, succeeding Bass.

Los Angeles has faced persistent challenges with homelessness, housing costs, and public safety in recent years. Raman’s platform focused on expanding affordable housing supply and altering approaches to encampments and policing. Bass had pursued a mix of enforcement and service expansion during her term. The election outcome reflects voter preferences on those local questions in a city of nearly 4 million people.

The mayoral race occurred on the same day as the national midterms, in which Democrats took control of both the House and Senate. Local results in Los Angeles and other cities will shape implementation of state and federal policies on housing, transit, and climate in the years ahead. Raman’s win is the most prominent municipal upset of the cycle.

Vote counting in Los Angeles continued for several days after election night, consistent with California’s vote-by-mail system. The final margin will be certified in the coming weeks, but major outlets called the race for Raman once the remaining ballots made a Bass comeback mathematically improbable.