Nithya Raman Elected Mayor of Los Angeles

Nithya Raman, a 45-year-old Indian-born democratic socialist, has been elected Mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Karen Bass in the November 3 mid-term elections. Her victory makes her the first South Asian mayor of the United States' second-largest city.

Raman previously served as a Los Angeles City Council member for District 4 and is an urban planner by training. She earned her bachelor's degree from Harvard and a graduate degree from MIT.

“Los Angeles, I am deeply honoured to be your next Mayor.”

With this win, America's two largest cities, New York and Los Angeles, are now led by Indian-descent mayors who are Democratic Socialists. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani shares similar political ideals.

Raman's family roots trace back to Keralam in India, specifically Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram. She left Keralam at around age six when her family migrated to the United States.

In a video posted on X, Raman said she is deeply honoured to be the next Mayor and thanked thousands of supporters. She pledged to work every day to earn public trust and build affordable housing, parks, and a better transit system.

Indian American Impact congratulated Raman on her victory. Her win came as part of a broader Democratic wave in which Democrats gained control of the House and Senate.