After Close Poll, Nithya Raman Wins Los Angeles Mayor Race as Karen Bass Concedes

Raman addresses voters

Raman announced her response in a video statement on Thursday afternoon. She said she felt deeply honored to become Los Angeles’ next mayor. She also spoke to residents who supported Bass or stayed away from voting. Raman said she would work each day at City Hall to earn their trust and rebuild confidence in the city.

Raman praised Bass’s long service to Los Angeles. She said people in the city and across the country valued Bass’s commitment to the promise of Los Angeles.

Bass concedes the contest

Bass issued a statement Thursday morning conceding to Raman. She said she had called Raman to congratulate her on the victory. Bass thanked campaign supporters and other leaders who assisted her. She also said she would keep working to ensure a better life was within reach for everyone.

Poll showed tight contest

After the primary, Bass and Raman moved ahead of Spencer Pratt, who finished third. A week before the general election, support for Bass among Pratt’s primary voters had risen to 41%, from 22%.

Raman’s backing among those voters slipped from 16% in September to 14% in October. The poll found 45% of Pratt’s voters were still undecided.

Candidates’ paths to mayoral race

Raman entered the mayoral contest in February, despite having previously endorsed Bass’s reelection campaign. She won a seat on the Los Angeles City Council in 2020. Before joining the council, Raman co-chaired the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Homelessness Committee and co-founded a nonprofit focused on homeless advocacy.

Bass grew up in Los Angeles with three brothers and began her career as a nurse and physician assistant. She later founded the Community Coalition, which worked with underserved South Los Angeles residents on substance abuse, poverty and crime.

Bass received endorsements from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the primary. Nearly a week before the November election, billionaire Rick Caruso said he would vote for Bass, his former rival in the 2022 mayoral race, while raising concerns about Raman’s competence.