Nithya Raman wins historic election as first South Asian mayor of Los Angeles

Nithya Raman has been elected as the next mayor of Los Angeles after defeating incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, according to reports from the BBC, NPR, and the Guardian. Al Jazeera reported that Raman is a democratic socialist and will serve as the city's first South Asian mayor. Fox Business and KTLA also reported her election victory, noting that her win marks a new era of progressive politics for the city. [1][4][5][6][8][11]

Los Angeles residents and public figures have begun sharing reactions to the historic result, Al Jazeera reported. Streamer Hasan Piker was among those commenting on the election of Raman. Vox reported that the outcome tests a new approach to housing politics within the city. [1][4]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Raman previously served as a Los Angeles City Council member starting in 2020 before defeating Bass, who had served as mayor since 2022. Raman is the first South Asian and Indian-American mayor-elect of the city, achieving the victory despite Bass raising twice as much campaign money. [15][16]

Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, with an estimated 3.87 million residents within the city limits as of 2025. The surrounding metropolitan area encompasses 12.9 million people, making it the primary commercial, financial, and cultural hub of Southern California. [13]