Nithya Raman announces her bid to run for mayor and challenges incumbent Karen Bass in Los Angeles amid growing debate over policing and homelessness policies

With the filing deadline looming, Los Angeles politics took a sharp turn when Nithya Raman, a sitting city council member, officially jumped into the mayoral race.

The 44-year-old announced her decision over the weekend, positioning herself as a candidate ready to upend the status quo in America’s second-largest city.

Her entry instantly complicates what many assumed would be a smoother re-election path for Mayor Karen Bass.

A Campaign Framed Around a City in Trouble

In a video posted online, Raman struck a personal note, talking about how Los Angeles shaped her life and career.

But the message quickly shifted to urgency. In her view, the city is no longer delivering opportunity the way it once did.

She pointed to out-of-control housing costs, a visible homelessness crisis, and basic services that many residents feel are stretched thin.

To Raman, those pressures signal a city nearing a breaking point.

Policies That Energize Supporters and Alarm Critics

Raman’s ideas don’t land quietly. She is closely aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, whose “Program for Los Angeles” reads like a wish list for sweeping change.

The proposals include scaling back traditional policing, redirecting police funding toward mental health and social services, decriminalizing drug use, and creating safe injection sites.

Housing is central to the vision. The DSA platform talks openly about vacancy taxes, eminent domain, and pulling housing out of the private market altogether.

Even golf courses are mentioned as potential sites for low-income housing, a suggestion that has become a lightning rod for criticism.

A Firm Stance on Policing and Public Safety

Few issues define Raman more than her position on law enforcement.

She has repeatedly supported calls to defund the police and rethink how public safety works in Los Angeles. Her record reflects that approach.

She voted against a measure that would have banned homeless encampments near schools and daycares, and she later opposed a proposed pay raise for new LAPD officers.

Police union leaders argue her approach would make an already difficult job nearly impossible.

One spokesperson accused her of wanting fewer officers, emptier jails, and looser enforcement, calling her candidacy dangerous for a city already grappling with crime and staffing shortages.

The Personal Story Behind the Politics

Raman’s background adds another layer to her public image.

Born in India, she moved to the United States at age six.

She studied political theory at Harvard and earned a master’s degree in urban planning from MIT, credentials that resonate with progressive voters who value policy expertise.

At home, she shares a life with her husband, television writer and producer Vali Chandrasekaran, whose credits include Modern Family and 30 Rock.

The couple is raising 10-year-old twins, a detail Raman often references when talking about the future of the city.

A Race Transformed by Who Is Not Running

Raman’s late entry comes as several high-profile figures step aside.

County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath chose not to run.

Developer Rick Caruso, who previously lost to Bass, bowed out.

Former school superintendent Austin Beutner exited the race following the tragic death of his daughter.

With fewer heavyweight challengers, Raman suddenly finds herself in a serious position to compete, even if she remains a polarizing figure.

Early Numbers and a Fractured Political Alliance

Prediction markets have already weighed in.

Kalshi currently gives Mayor Bass a slight edge, but Raman’s odds are close enough to suggest a real contest.

Her decision to run is especially notable given her past alignment with Bass.

While Raman has praised the mayor’s leadership, she has also made it clear she believes Los Angeles needs far bigger changes than it is currently seeing.

A Broader National Pattern Takes Shape

Raman’s campaign doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

Across the country, democratic socialist leaders are gaining power in major cities.

Seattle and New York have seen similar movements, often centered on softer approaches to crime, expanded social programs, and dramatic housing interventions.

Supporters call it overdue reform. Critics see it as risky experimentation.

What Comes Next for Los Angeles

As the campaign unfolds, voters will be forced to weigh competing visions of the city’s future.

Raman is betting that frustration with homelessness, housing costs, and public safety will outweigh fears about her far-left agenda.

Whether that gamble pays off could redefine Los Angeles politics for years to come.

Summary

Nithya Raman’s entry into the Los Angeles mayoral race has instantly reshaped the contest.

Running on a democratic socialist platform, she promises bold solutions to housing, homelessness, and policing, while critics warn her ideas could push the city further into crisis.

With major contenders stepping aside and early odds showing a competitive race, Los Angeles now faces a high-stakes choice about the direction it wants to take next.