Indian American Nithya Raman Polls Second in Crowded LA Mayoral Race as Bass Faces Unfavorability Crisis

With less than three months before the June 2 primary election, Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has emerged as a credible challenger to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in what could become a historic moment for Indian American political representation—even as Bass maintains a lead despite widespread voter dissatisfaction.

A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, conducted March 9-15, 2026, found Bass drawing 25% support among likely Los Angeles voters. Raman polled at 17%, while conservative reality TV star Spencer Pratt came in third at 14%. About 26% of likely voters remain undecided.

However, the same poll revealed a troubling sign for Bass: 56% of likely voters view her unfavorably, compared with 31% who view her favorably, according to Westside Current. The poll surveyed 840 likely Los Angeles voters.

Who Is Nithya Raman?

According to Wikipedia, “Nithya V. Raman is an American urban planner, activist, and politician serving as the Los Angeles city councilmember for the 4th district since 2020.” She is a member of both the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America.

Wikipedia reports that “Nithya Raman was born into a Malayali family in Kerala, India, and moved to Louisiana at 6 years old.” According to her official biography, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political theory from Harvard University and a master’s degree in urban planning from MIT.

After completing her education, Raman returned to India for seven years, working with impoverished populations in informal settlements in Chennai and Delhi. In India, she founded Transparent Chennai, a research initiative focused on improving sanitation systems and mapping expanding tenement clusters often excluded from official municipal plans.

On February 7, 2026, Raman announced that she would challenge incumbent Karen Bass. The Los Angeles Times labeled it a “surprise bid,” pointing out that the announcement was made hours before the candidate filing deadline, and that Raman had endorsed Bass for re-election just weeks before.

“Raman, who entered the race just before the filing deadline in February, was viewed favorably by 26% of likely voters and unfavorably by 23%, according to the poll. 

The Backstabbing Controversy

The late entry drew sharp criticism. According to Wikipedia, “Julio Esperias, a former campaign volunteer for Raman, labeled her candidacy a ‘breach of trust’ and ‘a betrayal’, referencing Bass’s support of Raman in her 2024 city council re-election bid.”

Wikipedia also reported that “Labor union Los Angeles Police Protective League, who have endorsed Bass, claimed that ‘if political backstabbing were a crime, Nithya Raman would be a wanted fugitive.'”

However, in a subsequent interview, Raman cited Measure ULA as a ‘catalyst’ for her mayoral bid. The voter-approved measure, often referred to as the ‘mansion tax’, introduced a tax on property sales valued at over $5.3 million USD. Raman, who initially supported the measure, said that it had become a ‘major obstacle’ to building new housing.”

Raman’s Electoral Strengths

According to Westside Current’s analysis of the Berkeley/LA Times poll, “Raman, who entered the race just before the filing deadline in February, was viewed favorably by 26% of likely voters and unfavorably by 23%, according to the poll. A majority of those surveyed said they still do not know enough about her to have an opinion.”

The poll showed important demographic strengths. According to Westside Current, “The poll found Bass led among Black voters with 43% support, while Raman led among Asian and Pacific Islander voters with 34%.”

Raman told the Los Angeles Times that she is “grateful that her campaign ‘to make our city more affordable is resonating with so many Angelenos.'”

Bass’s Vulnerabilities

The poll revealed significant weaknesses for the incumbent. According to Los Angeles Today, “Bass has faced criticism for her handling of the Palisades fire, with 56% of those polled saying they had an unfavorable view of her.”

ABC7 reported Bass’s campaign response to the polling: “It’s clear Angelenos are frustrated by decades of inaction on major issues. This campaign will show that it’s Karen Bass who changed the direction on these issues and that others running responded with reports while Karen Bass took action.”

According to Los Angeles Today, “The Palisades fire ignited on January 7, 2025, killing 12 people and destroying thousands of homes.”

The Progressive Question

The Los Angeles Times’ Steve Lopez writes, “Raman is to the left of Bass and the traditional left in Los Angeles… Raman’s candidacy — along with DSA candidates for other city offices — makes the election something of a referendum on the evolving center of political clout in L.A. It raises the question of whether the city is ready to blow things up and move further in the direction of New York City, which just elected as mayor the ultra-progressive Zohran Mamdani.'”

According to the Los Angeles City Clerk’s office, “The City will hold its Primary Nominating Election on June 2, 2026, and the General Municipal Election on November 3, 2026.”

Ballotpedia noted that “In Los Angeles, a candidate can win the election outright if they receive more than 50% of the vote in the primary. If no candidate does so, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election.”

Given the current polling, with Bass at 25% and Raman at 17%, a November runoff between the two appears increasingly likely—setting up what could be a historic showdown between the city’s first Black female mayor and a candidate who could become its first Asian American and Indian American mayor.