Nithya Raman confronted one of the most contentious issues of her mayoral campaign Tuesday night, defending her description of Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “genocide.”
Speaking at the 2026 Jewish Los Angeles Mayoral Forum, the Los Angeles City Councilwoman’s comments drew an uneasy response from some members of the approximately 1,000 people gathered at the Skirball Cultural Center.
“The word genocide is a deeply painful word,” Raman said. “I understand its historical context and the weight of that historical context for the world, not just for this room but for the world.”
Raman said she chose the term after seeing reports and images from Gaza that she found profoundly disturbing.
“I used it because other experts have used it to describe what’s happening, and I used it because I felt compelled to speak out about the issues we saw — the images coming out, the targeting of hospitals and the deaths of children.”
The subject carried added significance at a forum focused on Jewish voters, particularly as Los Angeles continues to experience elevated levels of anti-Jewish hate. LAPD recorded 46 anti-Jewish hate crimes between Jan. 1 and May 31, 2026, putting the city on pace for roughly 12% more incidents than the previous year.
Raman said her position on Gaza should not be confused with antisemitism.
“I know that antisemitism is rising across the entire country and in this city,” she said. “I believe it is coming from every side of the political spectrum, right and left.”
“I never want progressive politics to be conflated with antisemitism.”
She also cited her response to the Oct. 7 attacks as evidence of her position.
“I was the first in City Hall to condemn the attacks. I condemn them without reservation and I will speak up.”
The forum placed Raman and Mayor Karen Bass under intense scrutiny just weeks before the Nov. 3 runoff. The candidates appeared separately in interviews with Spectrum News anchor Alex Cohen, responding to the same central questions and taking questions from selected audience members.
Jewish Federation Los Angeles, the Skirball Cultural Center, ADL Los Angeles, Jewish Family Service LA and AJC Los Angeles hosted the event with 45 community partners. Rabbi Noah Farkas and Skirball CEO Jessie Kornberg delivered opening remarks.
The race carries significant consequences for Bass. She received 34% of the vote in the June 2 primary, narrowly ahead of Raman’s 29%, making Bass the first sitting Los Angeles mayor since 2005 to be forced into a runoff.
A Berkeley IGS/Los Angeles Times poll found Raman leading Bass 39% to 28%, while 33% of voters remained undecided. Raman held an advantage among younger voters, while Bass performed better with voters ages 65 and older.
The poll also found that Bass had a 28% favorable rating and a 63% unfavorable rating. Raman’s favorable rating was 40%, compared with 39% unfavorable.
Each campaign has raised about $2.5 million, while outside groups have spent millions more. The Los Angeles Police Protective League was among those spending against Raman.
Raman also pointed to the broader demand for change shaping the contest, saying voters who supported Spencer Pratt reflected “the desire for change in Los Angeles.”
