15 October 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Nithya Raman, a Kerala-born Indian-American politician, has emerged as a leading contender in the race for mayor of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States. Raman, who currently serves on the Los Angeles City Council, is challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the November 3, 2026, runoff election.
According to a poll conducted by the University of California, Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, Raman received support from 39% of likely voters, compared with 28% for Bass. Around 33% of respondents remained undecided, indicating that the contest was still open ahead of election day.
Who Is Nithya Raman?
Born in Kerala on July 28, 1981, Raman moved to Louisiana in the United States when she was six years old. She studied political theory at Harvard University and later earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Raman entered Los Angeles politics in 2020, when she defeated incumbent council member David Ryu to represent the city’s Fourth District. She was re-elected in 2024 and has focused much of her political work on housing, homelessness, urban infrastructure and improving public services.
If elected mayor, Raman would become the first Indian-American to hold the office. Her campaign has attracted attention among Indian-American communities and voters interested in changes to the city’s approach to housing affordability and homelessness.
Housing and Homelessness at the Centre of the Race
Homelessness, public safety, affordable housing and the management of city services have become major issues in the mayoral contest. Raman has criticised the incumbent administration’s handling of homelessness and argued that Los Angeles needs a more urgent and effective approach to its housing challenges.
Bass, meanwhile, is seeking another term and has defended her administration’s work. Her tenure has faced scrutiny over homelessness and the response to the devastating Palisades fire in January 2025.
The Berkeley IGS–Los Angeles Times poll found that voters were concerned about improving city infrastructure, moving homeless residents indoors, crime and public safety, and expanding affordable housing. These issues are expected to remain central to the candidates’ campaigns.
A Significant Poll Lead, but Many Voters Remain Undecided
The poll represents a notable change in the race, as Raman finished behind Bass in the June 2 primary. Bass received approximately 34% of the primary vote, while Raman secured around 29%. The two candidates advanced to the November runoff after the primary election.
However, Raman’s polling lead does not guarantee victory. With approximately one-third of likely voters still undecided in the September survey, the final outcome will depend on voter choices during the closing weeks of the campaign.
The upcoming election will determine whether Los Angeles voters retain Bass for another term or choose Raman to lead the city. The result will also determine whether Raman makes history as the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles.