Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman is projected to defeat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the city’s Nov. 3 mayoral election. Decision Desk HQ projected Raman as the winner on the evening of Nov. 4, and NBC News called the race on Nov. 5. The latest unofficial figures released by Los Angeles County on Thursday morning showed Raman with 429,450 votes, or about 52.1%, compared with 394,796 votes, or 47.9%, for Bass. Raman’s lead had grown to 34,654 votes. Ballot counting and the official canvass are still underway.
A lead that grew as ballots were counted
Bass initially held a narrow advantage in the first election-night returns. Raman moved ahead as additional mail ballots and later batches were processed, and her margin continued to widen. Because the county is still counting ballots, vote totals reported by different outlets can reflect different update times. Raman should be described as the projected winner, not as the officially certified mayor-elect.
Housing, homelessness and public safety
The contest focused on housing affordability, homelessness, public safety and the city’s broader management. Raman criticized the Bass administration’s record on homelessness and housing costs and campaigned on a change in direction. Bass defended her administration’s work amid major challenges, including wildfires, housing pressures and city services. The Los Angeles Times’ pre-election analysis highlighted differences over housing construction, policing and approaches to people living on the streets.
A win for the progressive left
Raman is associated with the Democratic Socialists of America. Her projected victory would place Los Angeles among major U.S. cities led by progressive candidates, following other recent victories by left-wing municipal candidates. Bloomberg reported that the result extends a broader pattern of progressive gains in large cities. Still, a mayoral win does not automatically change the composition of the City Council. Budgets, policing, housing development and public services will continue to require administrative action and council approval.
What comes next
Los Angeles County says ballot processing and verification are continuing, with official results to be certified after the canvass. If Raman takes office, she will inherit persistent challenges involving housing supply, rents, homelessness and the allocation of city resources. Her ability to turn campaign proposals into budgets and workable policies will be an early test of the new administration.
The county’s canvass typically takes several weeks, and the result is not final until the count is certified.