Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India-born Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in a stunning upset, marking a major political shift in the United States’ second-largest city.
Raman, 45, who was backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, defeated Bass after campaigning on promises to improve public services, tackle homelessness and reform policing. Her victory also reflects a growing challenge to established Democratic leaders from progressive candidates across the country.
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Raman’s victory comes a year after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the New York mayoral election. However, unlike Mamdani, Raman attracted relatively little national attention during her campaign and sought to position herself as an independent-minded progressive willing to break with her party on certain issues.
Her entry into the mayoral race came as a surprise, particularly after she had initially endorsed Bass, who was once her political ally. Raman announced her candidacy shortly before the filing deadline, saying Los Angeles had reached a “breaking point”.
Bass conceded defeat and said she had called Raman to congratulate her.
“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken,” Bass said in a statement, adding that she was committed to ensuring a smooth transition.
Bass becomes the first Los Angeles mayor in two decades to lose a re-election bid. Her first term was significantly affected by the devastating Palisades Fire, which broke out while she was abroad and caught the city’s fire department unprepared.
The disaster destroyed homes and displaced residents, leaving many voters dissatisfied with Bass’ handling of the crisis. The political fallout continued to haunt her campaign.
RAMAN PROMISES CHANGE
Raman’s campaign focused on addressing long-standing problems in Los Angeles, including homelessness, deteriorating public infrastructure and concerns over policing.
She has promised to remove the city’s police chief, whom she considers too accommodating towards federal immigration authorities. She has also pledged to improve basic civic services, including repairing pothole-ridden roads, damaged sidewalks and broken streetlights.
On homelessness, Raman criticised Bass’ approach as ineffective and proposed expanding medical outreach teams to work with people living on streets and in encampments. Her plan aims to build trust with homeless residents and eventually move them into permanent housing.
She has also proposed creating more housing options to reduce the city’s dependence on hotels rented to accommodate homeless people.
Raman has said her measures could reduce the number of people sleeping in tents and encampments by at least half by 2028, when Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games. However, homelessness remains a persistent challenge in the region despite billions of dollars spent on tackling the crisis.
Her campaign gained traction amid voter dissatisfaction with problems that continued during Bass’ tenure. A Berkeley IGS/Los Angeles Times poll conducted between October 19 and 25 found that around four in 10 likely voters considered reducing homeless encampments a top priority for the next mayor.
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT BACKED BASS
Raman’s victory came despite strong support for Bass from prominent Democratic leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Nearly every member of the Los Angeles City Council also backed Bass, who previously served in the state Legislature and Congress before becoming mayor in 2022.
Billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who lost to Bass in the 2022 mayoral election, also said he was voting for the incumbent, although he stopped short of formally endorsing her.
Raman, an urban planner, received backing from several advocacy and political organisations, including Our Revolution, founded by Senator Bernie Sanders, and the Sierra Club. However, she had limited support from prominent local politicians.
She also held a widely publicised private meeting with former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, signalling efforts to expand her political network beyond progressive circles.
As mayor, Raman will face the challenge of governing a city of 3.8 million people that is grappling with homelessness, infrastructure problems and a struggling entertainment industry. Los Angeles is also home to a major port, leading universities and research institutions, and remains one of the world’s major tourist destinations.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
