Nithya Raman has officially declared her candidacy for the mayoral election in Los Angeles, signaling the beginning of a new chapter in the race. Known as the “Mamdani of LA”, Raman’s entry into the race is seen as a major shift in the election landscape, particularly as she has been a close ally of current mayor Karen Bass.
On March 8, Nithya Raman kicked off her mayoral campaign at a public event held at the Van Nuys – Sherman Oaks Recreation Center. After the event, she engaged directly with local residents to discuss her plans and start her campaign efforts.
In her speech, Raman emphasized the city’s pressing issues, including housing shortages, homelessness, and public safety. She pointed out that political caution and a fear of change within city government have delayed the necessary reforms, something she intends to address directly. Raman stressed that Los Angeles can improve by creating more housing and building a more accountable system for tackling homelessness and public safety.
Raman, who made history as an Indian immigrant when she was elected to the LA City Council in 2020, has quickly risen as a progressive voice in LA politics. Having won re-election in 2024, she is drawing comparisons to figures like Zohran Mamdani, who made waves in New York’s mayoral race. This new challenge to Mayor Bass is seen as a bold move by those who know Raman’s political affiliations.
Her bid comes amid a growing field of candidates, including Spencer Pratt, a media personality, community activist Ray Huang, and entrepreneur Adam Miller, all of whom have signaled their intention to run for LA mayor.
Raman is positioning herself as the candidate of change, particularly focusing on housing, homelessness, and public safety. She believes LA’s growth can be fostered by more aggressive housing policies and reforms aimed at addressing the homelessness crisis.
As the race intensifies, political analysts are curious about how Raman’s fresh perspective will impact the election dynamics, with many questioning whether her alignment with progressive values will resonate with a broader electorate.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
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