Nithya Raman Advances to Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff Against Incumbent Karen Bass

Progressive council member Nithya Raman, an Indian‑American urban planner and the first South Asian woman to reach a Los Angeles mayoral runoff, defeated former reality‑TV personality Spencer Pratt in the June 2 primary. She will face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, the city’s first Black woman mayor, in the November 3 runoff.

The race pits two left‑leaning candidates against each other and is being framed as a test of urban progressivism. Raman’s campaign focuses on reducing homelessness, expanding affordable housing, and improving public safety ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Bass draws support from organized labor and business leaders and emphasizes continuity in addressing the city’s fiscal challenges. Voters counted roughly 2.2 million ballots, representing about 38 % of registered voters, before the runoff field narrowed to Raman and Bass.

Both candidates say the outcome will shape Los Angeles’ approach to housing costs, encampments, and city services for its four‑million residents.