Los Angeles Democratic Socialists of America Endorses Nithya Raman for Mayor

The Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has endorsed Councilmember Nithya Raman for the mayoral election on November 3. This endorsement aims to energize left-wing supporters as she takes on incumbent Karen Bass.

The decision came after Raman received over 60% of votes in an online poll conducted among more than 6,000 DSA members in the Los Angeles area. More than 1,400 votes were cast, but the exact percentage of Raman’s support was not disclosed.

The DSA is known for its positions on issues like defunding the police and abolishing prisons, which have been controversial to some. Despite this, the group has achieved electoral victories across the nation, such as the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York.

Sara Sadhwani, a politics professor at Pomona College, noted that a DSA endorsement signifies a leftward shift in political stance and can define Raman as a candidate to both local establishment and national Republicans.

Raman, who has been a DSA member since before her initial council campaign in 2020, leads a slate of nine candidates supported by DSA-LA in local and federal races this November.

“Our base of left-leaning demo socialists are fed up with the status quo and really want to see a significant change in how the city is run,”

said Tal Levy from DSA-LA’s electoral politics committee. The committee recommended Raman’s endorsement in a close 3 to 2 vote. Despite noting her sometimes inconsistent support for DSA issues, they felt she was the better choice for the general election.

In Raman’s previous runs for council, DSA endorsed her, and she has facilitated major legislation favored by the group, like renter protection enhancements and reforms to the city’s rent stabilization ordinance.

However, Raman’s relationship with DSA has not been without tension. Approval of budgets that increased police funding and attempts to amend Measure ULA, offering specific exemptions, have caused friction within the group.

Significant discord arose following the DSA’s statement on the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which Raman criticized for lacking empathy towards Israeli communities. Raman faced censure in early 2024 from the DSA for accepting an endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles, highlighting her complex relationship with the group.

Since Raman’s election as the first DSA-backed official in Los Angeles, the group has successfully supported other council members like Hugo Soto-Martínez, Ysabel Jurado, and Eunisses Hernandez, all of whom support Bass.

Besides Raman, the DSA’s slate for November 3 also features Marissa Roy for city attorney and Estuardo Mazariegos for a council seat in South L.A.