Two Paths Collide: Karen Bass and Nithya Raman’s Journey to the Mayoral Race

Early Lives and Career Beginnings

Karen Bass and Nithya Raman have charted vastly different life paths leading to the contentious mayoral race in Los Angeles. Bass, born in South L.A. in 1953, grew up during the civil rights movement, watching the news closely with her father. Her early involvement in politics began at age 14, campaigning for Robert F. Kennedy. Bass’s journey included roles as a physician’s assistant, activist, and eventually politician. She signed up her mother as a precinct leader for Kennedy’s campaign and had a deep engagement with the civil rights movement. Her political interest experienced a transformative moment following Kennedy’s assassination, driving her towards activism and community politics.

Nithya Raman was born in Kerala, India, in 1981. She moved to the Boston suburb of Burlington with her family, navigating racial politics as South Asians became more prevalent in the area. Raman’s childhood obstacles sharpened her empathy and curiosity. Spit upon and subjected to slurs, Raman resisted changing her behavior in response to prejudice.

Educational Pursuits and Professional Experience

Bass, a graduate of Hamilton High School in West Los Angeles, attended San Diego State University and later studied at USC Keck School of Medicine and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Her activism extended internationally, visiting Cuba in 1973 with the Venceremos Brigade to learn about socialism. Her career as a physician’s assistant in Los Angeles coexisted with her active involvement in community and police reform issues.

Raman went to Harvard University, earning a degree in social studies. After college, she worked with slum dwellers’ organizations in Delhi and later pursued similar work in Chennai. Raman’s focus was on improving sanitation and living conditions for resettlement colonies. She returned to the U.S. for a master’s degree in urban planning from MIT, after which she founded Transparent Chennai to advocate for sanitation improvements.

Political Ascension and Community Impact

Bass entered politics through the California state Assembly in 2004 as a Democrat and pushed criminal justice reform initiatives. Her tenure included being elected Assembly speaker during economic adversity. Her congressional career spanned six terms, where she was noted for crossing party lines to find legislative solutions.

Raman, after moving to Los Angeles in 2013, engaged deeply with homelessness issues, creating the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition in 2017. Her rise in politics saw her defeating incumbent David Ryu to join the City Council in 2020, focusing primarily on homelessness solutions.

Mayoral Campaigns and Shared Objectives

Bass ran for Los Angeles mayor in 2022, was endorsed by Raman, and shared a mutual focus on resolving the city’s homelessness crisis. Yet, Raman announced a surprise mayoral bid in 2024, critiquing Bass for her failures in addressing key city concerns. Their campaigns offer voters distinct visions for Los Angeles, stemming from unique personal and political histories.

The election outcome on Tuesday will signal which candidate Los Angeles residents believe will chart the best path forward.