Nithya Raman Launches Primary Challenge to LA Mayor Karen Bass in 2026 Race
On Feb. 7, 2026 Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, 44, formally filed just hours before the city’s noon deadline to run for mayor, launching a primary challenge to incumbent Karen Bass after several high‑profile potential challengers declined to run. Her late entry comes amid a crowded field of roughly 40 declarations and ahead of March 4 nominating‑petition deadlines (qualifying requires either a $300 fee plus 500 valid signatures or 1,000 signatures with no fee); the race already features contrasting claims — Bass aides point to rebounding approval and recent declines in homelessness, while Bass critics accuse Raman of opposing encampment cleanups, and Raman arrives with past backing from DSA‑LA amid internal disputes.
📌 Key Facts
- Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, 44, formally announced on Feb. 7, 2026 that she will run for mayor, mounting a primary challenge to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
- Raman filed her intent to run just hours before the city's noon filing deadline, after several prominent potential challengers — Austin Beutner, Rick Caruso and Lindsey Horvath — decided not to run.
- Ballot-qualification mechanics: candidates may pay a $300 fee plus 500 valid signatures or submit 1,000 signatures with no fee; nominating petitions are due by March 4.
- More than 40 candidates have filed declarations of intent for the mayoral race, including TV personality Spencer Pratt and housing advocate Rae Chen Huang.
- Raman has on-camera quotes describing herself as a "fighter" and promising "seriousness, accountability, urgency and ambition."
- Raman was previously endorsed by DSA‑LA; the chapter censured her in 2024 over Gaza-related disagreements, and she accepted an endorsement from Democrats for Israel–Los Angeles.
- Bass’s campaign points to improved public-safety and homelessness metrics under her tenure — Bass’s approval has rebounded amid fights over federal immigration policy, Los Angeles has seen two consecutive years of declines in homelessness, and her camp touts a claimed 60-year low in homicides and the city's first sustained decrease in street homelessness — and Bass adviser Douglas Herman accused Raman of opposing encampment cleanups and certain safety efforts.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 08, 2026
1:39 PM
LA city councilwoman previously backed by DSA running for mayor in primary challenge to former ally Bass
New information:
- Confirms Raman filed her intent to run on Saturday just hours before the Los Angeles filing deadline, underscoring the last‑minute nature of her entry.
- Details ballot‑qualification mechanics: a $300 fee plus 500 valid signatures or 1,000 signatures with no fee, with nominating petitions due by March 4.
- Reports that 40 candidates have filed declarations of intent, including TV personality Spencer Pratt and housing advocate Rae Chen Huang.
- Includes fresh on‑camera quotes from Raman about being a 'fighter' and promising 'seriousness, accountability, urgency and ambition.'
- Adds a pointed statement from Bass campaign adviser Douglas Herman accusing Raman of opposing homeless encampment cleanups and safety efforts, and touting Bass’ claimed 60‑year low in homicides and first sustained decrease in street homelessness.
- Notes Raman’s prior DSA‑LA endorsement and the chapter’s 2024 censure over Gaza‑related disagreements and her acceptance of a Democrats for Israel–Los Angeles endorsement.
February 07, 2026
4:47 PM
Nithya Raman Announces She Will Run for Los Angeles Mayor
New information:
- Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, 44, formally announced on Feb. 7, 2026 that she will run for mayor.
- Raman filed just before the city’s noon filing deadline, after several prominent potential challengers — Austin Beutner, Rick Caruso and Lindsey Horvath — decided not to run.
- The article notes Bass’s approval had rebounded somewhat as she fought Trump immigration crackdowns and that homelessness has declined for two consecutive years under her tenure.