Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has moved ahead of Mayor Karen Bass in a tightly contested race to lead the nation’s second-largest city, as election officials continue counting outstanding ballots.
With roughly 63% of the vote reported, Raman had 377,458 votes, or 51.1%, while Bass had 360,864 votes, or 48.9%, according to the latest Associated Press figures.
Addressing an energized crowd Tuesday night at the Greek Theatre Plaza in Griffith Park, Raman pointed to her campaign’s momentum and said the results reflected voters’ desire for a new direction.
“Los Angeles is absolutely stunning tonight,” she said as she opened her remarks. “All across America, voters demanded change.
“Here in Los Angeles, this election is about change too—a city that was engineered over the last few decades to resist change and the people right here who said enough is enough,” she said.
Raman also made affordability a central theme, saying the rising cost of living has driven many Angelenos away and fueled widespread frustration with city leadership.
“We watched friend after friend, family after family, leave because they couldn’t afford to stay here anymore. And we all talked about it as if these things were completely out of City Hall’s control. That’s the cynicism that started to take over this city. That started to make us believe that L.A.’s problems weren’t just bad, but they were permanent. That L.A.’s best days were behind us,” Raman said.
Although she had taken the lead, Raman acknowledged that the race was not yet decided and said she would wait for all remaining ballots to be counted before claiming victory.
Bass initially held a narrow advantage Tuesday night as early returns came in, leading Raman by about two percentage points.
The contest shifted overnight after Los Angeles County election officials reported additional ballots, wiping out Bass’ early edge and placing Raman in front.
Speaking at the Loews Hollywood Hotel on election night, Bass recognized that “it takes awhile to count the vote” but told supporters she remained confident in the result.
“Four years ago you gave me the honor of a lifetime,” she said. “This is the Los Angeles that I will never stop fighting for.”
Bass acknowledged the city’s challenges while stressing its “extraordinary promise.” She pointed to her administration’s work to reduce crime and move unhoused residents from the streets.
For a second term, Bass said she would continue working to reduce homelessness, expand affordable housing and strengthen public safety.
She also pledged to expand her Inside Safe program, add staffing at the Los Angeles Police Department and speed up rebuilding in Pacific Palisades after the devastating January 2025 wildfires.
Raman, meanwhile, campaigned on expanding affordable housing, addressing homelessness and improving city services.
She promised to cut the number of people living on the streets by at least 50% before the 2028 Olympics, boost housing construction and strengthen renter protections.
Because neither candidate had secured a decisive advantage, the mayoral race could remain unsettled for several more days.
Under California election rules, ballots mailed by Election Day may still be counted if they arrive within seven days.
