From Vanity Fair · Maxwell Adler · · 2m
Los Angeles Mayoral Race Shifts with DSA Support
DSA-backed Nithya Raman edges out Karen Bass in LA mayoral race.
In brief
DSA-backed Nithya Raman edges out Karen Bass in LA mayoral race. Nithya Raman, endorsed by DSA, is poised to unseat incumbent Karen Bass in Los Angeles mayoral race after early election returns show Bass with less than 1% lead. Originally reported by Vanity Fair.
DSA Party Celebrates Election Night
Socialists at DSA election party in Los Angeles cheered Democratic victories nationwide and celebrated Nithya Raman's potential mayoral win over Karen Bass.
“Karen Bass said that she would need to be up 10 points on election night to be comfortable”
Early Election Results Show Narrow Lead
Karen Bass held a less than 1% lead in early returns but ballots are expected to skew toward progressive candidate Nithya Raman.
“I’m not good at math because I’m gay. Is that 10 points? I don’t think so.”
DSA and Raman Have Tense Relationship
The DSA helped propel Raman to a City Council victory in 2020 but reprimanded her over disagreements about Israel, housing policy, and mansion tax.
“The national DSA voted last week to preserve its Los Angeles chapter’s endorsement of Raman by a single vote”
Raman's Campaign Strategy
Raman's campaign knocked on over 100,000 doors with help from DSA volunteers, aiming to defeat incumbent Karen Bass in LA mayoral race.
“They managed to knock on over 100,000 doors”
Raman's Political Challenges
Raman faced attacks from opponents like Spencer Pratt as a dangerous extremist but gained support from DSA members and local socialists.
“Nithya has way more of entertainment’s middle class”
Raman's Campaign Team
Raman's campaign manager Ian Manheimer reported nearly three quarters of his staff had never worked on a political campaign before.
“Holy shit! What is good, Los Angeles?”
Raman's Grassroots Efforts
Volunteers knocked on over 300 doors, with Raman's father knocking on more than 1,000 doors during the campaign.
“They knocked on more than 300 doors”
Raman's Political Background
Raman has a master’s in urban planning from Harvard and MIT, and her husband Vali Chandrasekaran is a television writer.
“They lead with the master’s in urban planning, and the Harvard, and the MIT”
Bass's Campaign Strategy
Bass defended her record on homelessness, city finances, and last year’s catastrophic fires during the campaign.
“She started the LA Black Dems Club in her kitchen”
Raman's Election Night Party
Raman held her election night party at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with a crowd that skewed whiter and more Asian than Bass's supporters.
“Raman’s crowd skewed whiter, and more Asian”
Raman's Potential Victory
Raman is poised to unseat Karen Bass in LA mayoral race after early election returns show Bass with less than 1% lead.
“Whoa, get fucked, Karen”
The main idea
Nithya Raman, endorsed by DSA, is poised to unseat incumbent Karen Bass in Los Angeles mayoral race after early election returns show Bass with less than 1% lead.
