Nithya Raman becomes first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles
The progressive politician defeated incumbent Karen Bass to lead the second-largest city in the United States.
Nithya Raman has won the mayoral contest in Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Karen Bass, according to South First. The 45-year-old Raman is the first Indian-American to lead the second-largest city in the United States.
Raman, who traces her family roots to Kerala, rose to office after beginning her political journey with neighbourhood-level activism. She previously served on the Los Angeles City Council, where she was re-elected in 2024 after defeating incumbent councillor David Ryu in 2020.
A member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Raman has focused her political work on affordable housing, tenants' rights, homelessness, and urban development. Her campaign addressed major issues including housing affordability and public services.
Raman moved to the United States at age six. She graduated in Social Studies from Harvard University and earned a Master's degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Before moving to Los Angeles in 2013, she co-founded Transparent Chennai in 2010, an initiative focused on urban poverty and basic amenities. She also served as executive director of Time's Up Entertainment.
Raman lives in the Silver Lake neighbourhood with her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, and their twins, Karna and Kaveri.
