In a historic political milestone, Kerala-born urban planner and City Council member Nithya Raman has been elected mayor of Los Angeles, becoming the first Indian-American and South Asian to lead America’s second-largest city after incumbent Mayor Karen Bass conceded defeat.
According to the latest Los Angeles County election updates released at 4:34 p.m. local time, Raman captured 52.70 percent of the vote, securing 460,772 ballots compared to Bass’s 413,519 votes, or 47.30 percent. Her winning margin expanded to 47,253 votes, up from an earlier lead of 34,654. Although ballot counting was still underway, Bass’s concession brought the closely watched contest to an effective close.
Bass announced on X that she had called Raman to offer her congratulations and promised a smooth transition of administration, thanking her supporters and pledging to continue working for the city. Raman confirmed the exchange, expressing gratitude for Bass’s public service and leadership. In her own post on X on Thursday, Raman stated that she was deeply honored to serve as the next mayor of Los Angeles.
The victory marks a defining breakthrough for South Asian and Indian-American representation in United States politics. Raman first stepped into electoral office in 2020, becoming the first Asian-American woman and South Asian elected to the Los Angeles City Council, a seat she successfully retained in the 2024 elections.
Throughout her mayoral campaign, Raman focused on some of the city’s most pressing challenges, emphasizing comprehensive strategies to address homelessness, expand housing accessibility, and upgrade local infrastructure. Her platform included pledges to improve street maintenance, repair potholes, enhance street lighting, and implement structural changes to policing and public safety.
Born in Kerala, Raman immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of six. She pursued her undergraduate education at Harvard University before earning a master’s degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before entering municipal politics, she dedicated her work to homelessness advocacy, co-founding the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition in Los Angeles.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/international/story/nithya-raman-becomes-first-indian-american-to-win-los-angeles-mayoral-race-1472023-2026-11-06?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-11-06 08:24:00
