In Los Angeles, progressive city council member Nithya Raman will compete against Mayor Karen Bass in a November runoff. This contest presents an unusual race between two Democrats who were once political allies. Both are set to lead a city with nearly 4 million residents, dealing with issues such as homelessness, infrastructure, and housing costs.
Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former reality TV star, is no longer in the race. His campaign drew national attention but failed to secure enough votes for the runoff. Raman’s candidacy arose after she initially endorsed Bass for reelection. Her election to the council, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, raises questions about whether Los Angeles wants to shift further left politically.
The election comes with historical implications. Bass is the first Black woman to serve as mayor, while Raman could become the first South Asian woman in the role. Raman encouraged voters frustrated with the city’s status quo, asserting that City Hall often prioritizes powerful interests at the expense of ordinary citizens.
Bass’s campaign strategist, Douglas Herman, expressed the mayor’s eagerness to contest against Raman, linking her to issues like encampments near schools and reduced police presence. As mail ballots continued to be counted, Raman gained ground on Pratt, eventually surpassing him with a lead of nearly 22,000 votes.
The mayoral race is one of two notable contests in the state. The other is the California governor’s race, where Democrat Xavier Becerra advances to the general election, though his opponent remains undetermined. Unofficial returns show Becerra leading, with Tom Steyer closing in on rival Steve Hilton in the latest counts.
Despite being a nonpartisan election, the candidates’ political affiliations shine through. Bass, representing the Democratic establishment, has backing from significant figures like Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, but did not secure a strong majority with under 35% of the vote.
Raman focuses on accelerating housing development, reviving entertainment industry jobs, and improving city services. She criticizes the current approaches to homelessness as ineffective.
Vote counting in California is a lengthy process, often taking days after the polls close. Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted if they arrive within seven days. This process caused delays in finalizing the November runoff candidates. As more mail votes were counted, Bass and Raman improved their standings over Pratt, who initially held second place.
Raman has changed some of her political stances. She now takes a more moderate view on no-camping zones and the size of the police department. Previously, she opposed measures against tent encampments and supported reducing police numbers. However, she now considers maintaining the current size of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Election strategy in multicultural Los Angeles requires coalition-building. To win, Raman must reach beyond her core supporters. Democratic consultant Bill Carrick sees Bass’s vulnerability but notes Raman’s need to broaden her support base.
Tanika Vickers, a nonprofit worker, shared her concerns about resource allocation, particularly on homelessness without achieving results. She supported Raman, believing her capable of implementing necessary changes in the city.
Associated Press journalists Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles and Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington contributed to this report.