Nithya Raman’s win in Los Angeles mayoral race is a major boost for Democratic Socialists in US

Nithya Raman’s victory in the Los Angeles mayoral election extends the Democratic Socialist wave that came to national prominence with Zohran Mamdani’s win as New York mayor last year. It also offers a glimpse of the political fights that could play out within the Democratic Party before the 2028 presidential elections.

India-born Raman, a Democratic Socialist member of the Los Angeles city councilmember, defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the elections that concluded on November 3.

Her victory is a milestone for the Democratic Socialists of America, the organisation that powered Mamdani’s victory last year.

In Los Angeles, a racially diverse city of nearly 4 million people, Raman’s election offers a glimpse into the political fights that could play out within the Democratic Party before the 2028 presidential elections.

With the mayoral elections taking place alongside midterm races that determined control of the US Congress, Raman’s campaign was seen as the latest test of how far democratic socialism can go in urban America.

In these elections for US offices at the national, state and local offices, more than 50 candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America won their races. Five candidates it supported were elected to the US House of Representatives. These elections, the organisation said, “prove socialism can win...

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