Los Angeles Democratic Socialists of America Backs Nithya Raman for Mayor

The Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has endorsed Councilmember Nithya Raman for mayor. This endorsement gives Raman a surge of left-wing support as she competes against incumbent Karen Bass in the upcoming November 3 election.

Raman secured over 60% in an online vote among the more than 6,000 DSA members in the Los Angeles area. Despite this, the group has not disclosed the exact percentage. More than 1,400 votes were cast in total.

The DSA is known for promoting controversial policies, such as defunding the police and abolishing prisons. These positions have attracted criticism from conservatives and have sometimes conflicted with mainstream Democratic values. Nonetheless, DSA has achieved several electoral successes recently, including Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor of New York.

“The growth of DSA has shown a clear movement to the left nationally,” said Sara Sadhwani, a politics professor at Pomona College. “A DSA endorsement will serve as a clear definition for Nithya Raman as a candidate, both among the Los Angeles establishment and Republicans nationwide.”

Raman, a DSA member since her first council run in 2020, leads a list of nine candidates supported by DSA-LA in local and federal races on November 3. Tal Levy, a member of DSA-LA’s electoral politics committee, stated, “Our base of left-leaning democratic socialists are fed up with the status quo and want significant changes in the city’s administration.” Levy admitted there were concerns about Raman’s endorsement due to her inconsistent voting record on DSA issues compared to other endorsed council members.

Despite the concerns, Levy stressed that Raman is considered the better choice in the general election. Raman has not commented publicly on the endorsement.

Previously, Raman received endorsements from the Los Angeles DSA for her council runs. She has implemented significant legislation supported by the group, including enhanced renter protections and reforms to the city’s rent stabilization ordinance—a first in decades.

Raman’s relationship with the DSA has been complicated by public disputes. Her approval of budgets that increased police spending and her revision of Measure ULA, known as the “mansion tax,” to provide exemptions to developers, have caused friction within the group. The most significant disagreement arose after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, where the DSA’s statement prompted Raman to label the response “unacceptably devoid of empathy” for Israeli communities.

In early 2024, Raman was censured by DSA for seeking and accepting endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles, a liberal Zionist organization. Throughout her tenure, Raman was the first DSA-endorsed official in Los Angeles to gain office. Following her election, DSA has successfully endorsed Hugo Soto-Martínez, Ysabel Jurado, and Eunisses Hernandez for City Council, all of whom have endorsed Bass.

Beyond Raman, DSA’s slate for the November 3 election features candidates Marissa Roy for city attorney and Estuardo Mazariegos for council in South L.A.