Karen Bass

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.