LA City Council Member Nithya Raman Launches Bid for Mayor

Raman joins crowded field in race for LA's top job, including incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 12:55pm

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Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman announced her candidacy for mayor on Saturday, joining a growing field of contenders that includes former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, Deputy Director of Housing Now California Rae Huang, longtime city engineer Asaad Alnajjar, and incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Raman, who represents parts of LA from the San Fernando Valley to Silver Lake, said the city needs a mayor "who's going to take responsibility for the whole system" and pledged to lead with "seriousness, accountability, urgency and ambition."

Why it matters

Raman's entry into the race comes as other high-profile candidates have either dropped out or decided not to run, including former deputy mayor Austin Buetner and LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. Billionaire Rick Caruso, who narrowly lost to Bass in the 2022 mayoral election, also announced he will not seek office again. Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, would join other prominent progressive politicians in government if elected.

The details

Raman, who took office in 2020 after working as an urban planner in India and running a homelessness nonprofit in LA, has focused on issues like homelessness, housing, public health, and the environment during her tenure on the city council. She was censured by the LA chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America in 2024 after accepting an endorsement from Democrats for Israel, though the chapter still chose to endorse her in her reelection bid for District 4.

  • Raman announced her mayoral candidacy on Saturday, just hours before the city deadline to file.
  • Raman was elected to the LA City Council in 2020.

The players

Nithya Raman

A Los Angeles City Councilmember who represents parts of the city from the San Fernando Valley to Silver Lake, and has announced her candidacy for mayor.

Karen Bass

The incumbent Mayor of Los Angeles, who Raman is challenging in the mayoral race.

Spencer Pratt

A former reality TV star who is also running for mayor of Los Angeles.

Rae Huang

The Deputy Director of Housing Now California, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles.

Asaad Alnajjar

A longtime city engineer in Los Angeles who is running for mayor.

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What they’re saying

“Los Angeles needs a mayor who's going to take responsibility for the whole system. This is a city of extraordinary possibility, but possibility only matters if our leadership is accountable for delivering it, and I'm ready to lead this city with seriousness, accountability, urgency and ambition that is equal to this moment.”

— Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Councilmember

What’s next

The Los Angeles mayoral election is scheduled for June 2026, with a runoff election in November 2026 if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the initial election.

The takeaway

Raman's entry into the LA mayoral race adds another progressive voice to the crowded field, as the city grapples with issues like homelessness, housing affordability, and environmental concerns. Her campaign promises to bring "seriousness, accountability, urgency and ambition" to City Hall, in contrast to the incumbent Mayor Bass and other more moderate candidates.