The next Mamdani? Progressive Nithya Raman shakes up LA mayor’s race
Feb 22, 2026
Highly rated councilmember makes last-minute entry after endorsing former ally Karen Bass – can she build a campaign to win?Nithya Raman, a progressive urban planner, entered Los Angeles politics with a bang when she was elected to city council in 2020, defeating an incumbent Democrat endorsed by
Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton.More than five years on, the 44-year-old is making waves again with her last-minute entry into the LA mayoral race. Raman filed to run just hours before the deadline – after recently endorsing Mayor Karen Bass for re-election – to the surprise of constituents, and political allies and opponents alike. Continue reading... ...read more read less