In the recent mayoral election in Los Angeles, the results suggest a decisive outcome even though all votes have not yet been fully counted. Current Mayor Karen Bass officially conceded defeat on November 5, acknowledging the victory of challenger Nithya Raman.
The election, part of the recent California midterms, saw Bass and Raman, who is also a council member for District 4, go head-to-head for the mayoral position. On the evening of November 3, the initial vote count revealed a very close race, with Bass leading with 50.78% of the votes, slightly ahead of Raman.
However, the following morning, the tide turned in Raman’s favor, and she maintained her lead throughout the counting process. According to the latest ballot counting data released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office as of Thursday morning, Raman secured 429,450 votes, accounting for 52.1%, while Bass garnered 394,796 votes, representing 47.9%. With over 75% of the votes tallied, the results indicate a clear outcome.
According to the official timeline, December 3 is the final day for county election offices to certify the results, with the Secretary of State scheduled to release the final official election results online on December 11. In light of the current election results, Bass issued a statement on Thursday recognizing her defeat, mentioning that she had personally reached out to Raman to congratulate her on the victory and pledged to ensure a smooth transition for the city government.
In her statement, Bass expressed gratitude to her supporters and reflected on the numerous challenges that Los Angeles has faced post-pandemic, including homelessness and the need for commercial recovery. She emphasized the city government’s efforts to assist homeless individuals in leaving the streets, improve community safety, increase affordable housing, and create more opportunities for working families. She also noted that during devastating fires, her team worked alongside the community to navigate through tough times.
“Although the election results were not what we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have made their choice,” Bass said. “I have called Councilwoman Raman to congratulate her on her victory, and I commit to ensuring that the city government transitions smoothly and effectively. It is our collective responsibility to continue moving this city forward, as that is the expectation of the people of Los Angeles.”
Raman, born in India, moved to the United States at a young age. Before entering politics, she worked in urban planning and co-founded the SELAH Community Homeless Union.
In 2020, Raman was elected to the Los Angeles City Council with the support of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has become one of the leading figures representing the “progressive” movement in Los Angeles politics.
Her policy platform focuses on issues of housing and homelessness, advocating for faster housing construction and the elimination of long-standing street encampments. She has also pledged to strengthen policies regarding sanctuary cities.
Following her victory, Raman is set to succeed Bass and become the 44th mayor of Los Angeles, marking a significant shift in the city’s leadership.