By Geeta Goindi
November 5, 2026 – Kerala-born Nithya Raman has made history as the first Indian-American elected mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Karen Bass in a stunning upset in the November 3 midterm elections.
The 45-year-old Democrat, an urban planner and City Council member, will also become the first Asian-American to lead the nation’s second-largest city, marking a milestone for political representation.
Her triumph ends more than two decades without a sitting Los Angeles mayor losing a re-election bid. The last such defeat came in 2005, when Antonio Villaraigosa unseated James Hahn.
Raman prevailed despite Bass receiving endorsements from prominent Democratic leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Los Angeles, I am deeply honored to be your next mayor,” Raman wrote on social media following her victory.
“I just spoke with Mayor Bass and expressed my deepest gratitude for her leadership and decades of service. Los Angeles would not be the city it is today without her.”
Looking ahead, she acknowledged the challenges facing the city while expressing optimism about its future.
“I love this city. I believe in its people. The work ahead will be hard, and change will take time. And together, we are going to build a future as extraordinary as the city we call home.”
She concluded: “Thank you, LA. Let’s get to work.”
From Kerala to Los Angeles
Born in Thrissur, Kerala, to a Tamil-speaking family, Raman spent her early childhood in India before immigrating to the United States at age six.
Her father, Venkataraman, was an engineer at KELTRON, Kerala’s state-owned electronics enterprise, while her mother, Sudha Kechery, worked for Indian Overseas Bank. Her maternal grandparents played an important role in her upbringing.
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The family initially settled in Louisiana before moving to Burlington, Massachusetts, where Raman grew up. She became a naturalized American citizen at 22.
A Harvard University graduate, Raman earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Her academic interests eventually took her back to India, where she worked with disadvantaged communities confronting poverty, inadequate infrastructure and displacement.
In New Delhi, she became involved in efforts to protect low-income residents facing eviction amid redevelopment projects ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
She subsequently moved to Chennai, where she founded Transparent Chennai, a civic initiative that used data and community participation to identify gaps in essential services.
The organization worked with residents of underserved neighborhoods to advocate for improved sanitation, public toilets and waste management.
These experiences helped shape Raman’s approach to urban governance, particularly her emphasis on making local institutions more responsive to people struggling with poverty and housing insecurity.
A Grassroots Political Journey
After settling in Los Angeles, Raman became increasingly involved in addressing homelessness and the rising cost of living.
In 2017, she co-founded the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a community organization focused on outreach and assistance to people experiencing homelessness.
Her political breakthrough came in 2020, when she defeated incumbent City Council member David Ryu, becoming the first Asian-American woman elected to the Los Angeles City Council.
Representing Council District 4, she established herself as a progressive voice on housing, homelessness and neighborhood services.
Her mayoral campaign centered on the shortage of affordable homes and growing frustration with local government.
“Los Angeles is experiencing an exodus. And, it’s not just people. Jobs have left Los Angeles, too,” Raman warned in a campaign message.
“Rents are too high, homeownership is a pipe dream, storefronts sit empty, and the industries that molded this city into greatness, have taken their business elsewhere.”
She argued that residents should not have to abandon their communities simply to afford a decent life.
Raman pledged to accelerate housing construction, streamline permits, repair sidewalks and streets, and make municipal services more efficient. She also promised to reduce street homelessness by half before Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Backed by progressive organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America, she drew support from younger voters and renters seeking change.
Her election places her among a growing group of democratic socialist leaders in major American cities, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, another politician of Indian heritage.
Indian-American Organizations Hail Victory
Raman’s historic victory drew congratulations from leading Indian-American organizations, which welcomed her achievement as a reflection of the community’s growing political influence.
MR Rangaswami, founder and chairman of Indiaspora, praised the mayor-elect and highlighted the increasing number of Indian-Americans serving in government.
“Congratulations to Nithya Raman on her election as the next Mayor of Los Angeles,” Rangaswami said.
“Across the country, a growing number of Indian Americans are answering the call to public service. They are lending their skills and perspectives at every level of government, from city councils and school boards to statehouses, mayors’ offices, and the halls of Congress.”
He added: “Civic Engagement and Social Impact is one of our core pillars and we are delighted to see Indian Americans working in service to their communities.”
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Indian American Impact, which endorsed Raman’s mayoral bid in April and previously supported her City Council campaign, also welcomed the result.
Chintan Patel, the organization’s executive director, credited her success to a campaign focused on the everyday concerns of Los Angeles residents.
“Nithya Raman ran on lowering rents, building housing faster, and making city services work for Angelenos, and voters chose her to deliver it,” Patel said.
“With her win, South Asian Americans will lead the two largest cities in the United States.”
Patel reaffirmed the organization’s support, saying, “We congratulate her on this historic victory and look forward to working with her at City Hall.”
Family, Identity and Public Service
Raman lives in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles with her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, a television writer and producer, and their 11-year-old twins, Karna and Kaveri.
The couple met while studying at Harvard and married in 2010.
As a mother raising children in Los Angeles, Raman has frequently connected her personal experiences with her priorities as a public official, particularly the need for safer neighborhoods, accessible sidewalks and affordable housing.
Her immigrant background has also been central to her political identity.
Defending the city’s immigrant communities, Raman previously declared:
“Los Angeles is a city built by immigrants – and the federal administration’s actions to sow fear and discord have struck at the core of what this city represents to so many of its residents: a place that welcomes people to build a better life here.”
For Raman, the journey from Kerala to the mayor’s office of one of America’s most influential cities has come full circle.
Her election represents not only a personal triumph but also a significant moment for Indian-Americans, whose presence in American political leadership continues to grow.
Her victory underscores the possibilities of an immigrant journey shaped by education, community service and a determination to make cities more equitable.
