Democratic Socialist Enters Mayoral Race as LA Grapples with Progressive Policy Results
Progressive Earthquake in LA Politics
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has entered the city’s mayoral race, challenging incumbent Karen Bass and potentially extending the Democratic Socialists of America’s growing influence over major American cities. Raman’s candidacy, announced just hours before the filing deadline, positions her as the highest-profile democratic socialist seeking executive office since New York’s Zohran Mamdani won his mayoral race. According to the Los Angeles Times, Raman’s entry shocked the political establishment and fundamentally altered the mayoral race dynamics. She joins a crowded field that includes reality television star Spencer Pratt and tech entrepreneur Adam Miller, though Raman represents the most serious challenge to Bass from an elected official with an established political base. Raman first gained national attention in 2020 when she defeated incumbent Councilmember David Ryu, becoming the first DSA-endorsed candidate elected to the Los Angeles City Council. Her victory was described as a political earthquake and blazed a trail for other democratic socialists including Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, and Ysabel Jurado. The four councilmembers have created a progressive bloc that has pushed for reduced police spending and increased intervention programs while providing Mayor Bass cover from left-wing criticism.
Breaking Point Rhetoric
Raman framed her mayoral candidacy around the claim that Los Angeles has reached a breaking point, with city government unable to manage basic functions. She cited problems including unaffordable housing, broken streetlights that take a year to fix, a stubborn homelessness crisis, and agencies that cannot seem to handle fundamental responsibilities. The critique represents a significant shift from Raman’s previous public support for Bass, whom she endorsed just weeks before entering the race. Raman had previously described the mayor as an icon and praised her as the most progressive mayor Los Angeles has ever had. The sudden reversal suggests either genuine evolution in Raman’s assessment or strategic calculation about political opportunity. Raman told reporters she maintains deep respect for Bass and acknowledges significant alignment on priorities. However, she argued that recent months have convinced her that without major changes in how Los Angeles operates, basic services and systems will cease functioning.
Testing Democratic Socialist Viability
Raman’s candidacy will test whether democratic socialist governance can translate from legislative advocacy to executive leadership in a major American city. Her tenure on the City Council has focused primarily on housing and homelessness issues, giving her a platform but also creating accountability for policy results. The Democratic Socialists of America have celebrated Mamdani’s New York victory as validation of their political strategy and policy vision. A Raman win in Los Angeles would further demonstrate the viability of democratic socialist candidates in America’s largest cities and potentially influence progressive politics nationally. However, Raman faces significant obstacles including limited name recognition outside her district, questions about her executive management capabilities, and potential resistance from voters concerned about progressive policy results on homelessness and public safety.
Mansion Tax Controversy
Raman has drawn criticism from fellow democratic socialists for proposing modifications to Measure ULA, the so-called mansion tax that imposes significant levies on high-value property transactions to fund affordable housing and homelessness programs. Her proposed amendments would create a 15-year exemption for newly constructed multifamily, commercial, and mixed-use properties. The modifications represent a response to concerns that ULA has dramatically reduced real estate transactions and discouraged housing construction. Data shows transactions involving properties above the ULA threshold have declined substantially, generating less revenue than projected while potentially reducing housing supply. According to The Real Deal, Raman’s fellow DSA councilmembers Hernandez and Jurado have opposed the modifications, viewing them as capitulation to real estate interests. The internal progressive conflict highlights tensions between ideological purity and pragmatic governance. Supporters of the tax argue that over one billion dollars has been raised for affordable housing and homelessness services, validating the policy’s effectiveness. Critics counter that administrative costs have exceeded funds actually spent on housing construction, while the tax has discouraged the private development necessary to address the housing shortage.
Homelessness Record Under Scrutiny
Raman has made homelessness policy central to her political identity, founding a homelessness nonprofit before entering politics and championing housing-first approaches on the City Council. However, her record faces scrutiny as Los Angeles’ visible homelessness has worsened despite increased spending. The city has invested billions in homelessness services and housing, yet encampments remain prominent throughout Los Angeles and housed population has not decreased proportionally to investment. This disconnect between spending and results has fueled public frustration and political vulnerability for progressive officials. Raman argues that the homelessness crisis stems from housing shortages and that only aggressive affordable housing construction combined with supportive services will resolve the issue. Critics suggest that permissive encampment policies and inadequate enforcement have enabled street homelessness to proliferate. The competing narratives reflect broader debates about progressive governance, with supporters arguing that insufficient resources rather than flawed approaches explain disappointing results, while critics contend that ideology has prevented effective policy responses.
Comparisons to Mamdani
Political analysts have drawn comparisons between Raman and Mamdani, noting similarities in their democratic socialist ideology, grassroots organizing backgrounds, and emphasis on housing affordability. Both rode progressive energy to upset victories over establishment-backed opponents and have maintained strong connections to activist communities. However, the two face different political environments and governing challenges. New York’s larger and more complex government may actually provide Mamdani with more levers to implement his agenda, while Los Angeles’ fragmented authority structure and ballot measure constraints limit mayoral power. Additionally, Raman would face higher scrutiny as a socialist candidate seeking to oust a sitting progressive mayor, rather than Mamdani’s path of defeating a moderate establishment candidate. The dynamics could make Raman’s path more difficult despite Los Angeles’ progressive reputation.
Republican Opposition and Coalition Building
Raman will likely face Republican Spencer Pratt as a significant opponent in the race, though his viability in deep-blue Los Angeles remains uncertain. Pratt has focused heavily on the city’s response to the Palisades fire, which destroyed his home and affected thousands of residents. The fire has emerged as a defining issue in the race, with all candidates facing questions about emergency preparedness and response. Raman notably did not criticize Bass over fire response until entering the mayoral race, when she pivoted to emphasizing the need for a mayor who prepares for emergencies before they happen. Building a winning coalition will require Raman to expand beyond her progressive base to include moderate Democrats, independents, and voters primarily concerned with basic service delivery rather than ideological positioning. Whether she can accomplish this while maintaining her democratic socialist identity represents a central strategic challenge. The race will provide important signals about the limits of progressive politics in Democratic cities and whether voters reward bold policy ambitions or pragmatic problem-solving. The outcome could influence progressive strategy nationwide and shape perceptions of democratic socialism’s viability as a governing philosophy in America’s largest urban centers.
