Progressive Nithya Raman edges ahead in LA mayoral race

Challenger Nithya Raman, a Los Angeles city councilwoman backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, holds a slight edge over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass according to prediction markets and a University of California-Berkeley/LA Times poll showing an 11-point lead, though 33% of voters remain undecided and other analysts call the race a toss-up. Bass's campaign dismissed the poll as an outlier.

Bass, 73, has overseen drops in the city's homeless count and falling crime during her first term, but was criticized for being out of town during both the 2025 wildfires and a June warehouse fire. Raman entered the race on the final filing day after years of friction with City Council colleagues, including an attempt by former council leadership to redraw her district to end her political career.

Raman finished second in the primary with 29% to Bass's 34%, behind reality TV figure Spencer Pratt's AI-heavy campaign that still only netted him 25%. She has since picked up two key union endorsements, while most labor groups, business organizations and elected officials, including Governor Newsom, continue backing Bass.

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