Nithya Raman narrowly held on to her Democratic Socialists of America endorsement Monday, surviving a late revolt by a single vote just hours before the Los Angeles mayoral election.
The DSA’s National Political Committee voted 14–13 to retain its backing of Raman despite an increasingly bitter dispute over her changing position on boycotting Israel, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The razor-thin decision allowed Raman to keep the support of the influential grassroots organization that helped launch her political career as she challenges incumbent Mayor Karen Bass for control of City Hall.
Raman could still be expelled from the DSA after the election because of her shifting views on Israel and demands that she oppose weapons shipments to the country through Los Angeles International Airport.
The California Post first reported Oct. 19 that two socialist factions were seeking to remove Raman over her positions on Israel and Palestine, triggering an internal fight that threatened her campaign just two weeks before voters went to the polls.
The dispute intensified Oct. 26, when the DSA’s National Political Committee voted 14–13 to give Raman until Saturday to clarify whether she supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, commonly known as BDS, or risk losing the endorsement.
BDS seeks to pressure Israel through economic boycotts, divestment and sanctions over its treatment of Palestinians.
Raman had previously taken a different position. In 2020, she said she did not personally support the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign and opposed government agencies participating in boycotts of Israel.
Last week, however, Raman submitted a statement endorsing BDS. She also accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a charge the Israeli government rejects.
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“I believe the best way for working Angelenos to stand in solidarity with Gaza is through non-violent protest, legislative action, and diplomatic pressure, including BDS,” Raman wrote.
Raman dismissed the dispute within the socialist group as “internal political theater,” arguing that it was not an issue of concern to Los Angeles voters.
The conflict centered on a DSA rule adopted in 2025 that requires local chapters to ask candidates about their support for BDS before issuing an endorsement.
DSA-LA did not include the question on Raman’s candidate questionnaire, leading national leaders to challenge her endorsement.
Local socialists, however, refused to withdraw their support for Raman, who won the chapter’s endorsement in September by a vote of 937–484.
“We’re relieved that the NPC is honoring the will of our members,” DSA-LA co-chair Leslie Chang said after Monday’s decision.
DSA-LA volunteers have spent weeks canvassing neighborhoods and organizing voters for Raman, giving her campaign grassroots support in the closely fought contest against Bass.
The Post contacted Raman for comment.
