Raman Edges Past Bass in L.A. Mayor Tally

Los Angeles residents face a delayed decision on who will lead the city next, as Councilwoman Nithya Raman has moved into a narrow lead over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. The shift in momentum occurred on Wednesday as the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office released new data. Raman currently holds 338,740 votes, representing 50.30% of the total. Bass trails with 334,762 votes, or 49.70%. Because the gap is so small, the final outcome may not be determined until late in the month.

The race has been tight since the final weeks of campaigning. A poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times and released last week, found both candidates at 40% support among likely voters. That survey also indicated that 19% of voters remained undecided. This result improved Bass’s standing from a September poll that showed Raman ahead by 11 percentage points. The earlier data showed Raman with 39% support compared to 28% for Bass. The current figures suggest the campaign has reached a stalemate in voter confidence.

Bass spoke to supporters in Hollywood on Tuesday night, expressing confidence in her path forward. She highlighted her administration’s response to recent wildfires and its stance on federal immigration raids. “Four years ago, you gave me the honor of a lifetime to serve as the mayor of the city that raised me,” Bass said. She described her daily commitment to the role and the communities she serves. Her remarks focused on resilience and the collective effort to improve living conditions in the city.

Raman held her own event at Griffith Park, where she framed the election as a rejection of the existing political structure. She argued that voters are frustrated with a status quo that has failed them. “They are angry about a broken status quo and the politicians who failed them over and over again,” Raman said. She characterized the campaign as a movement for change in a city that has historically resisted it. Raman thanked her base for choosing hope over despair in a city she described as built on ambition.

The campaign featured sharp exchanges over public safety and urban history. Bass and associated political action committees criticized Raman for calling for the removal of Police Chief Jim McDonnell. They argued that Raman lacked the experience to manage the second-largest city in the nation. Raman faced specific scrutiny after sharing a video with a leftist influencer where she urged people to stop “fascist liars.” The video displayed images of Bass and McDonnell. During a televised debate, Bass used the clip to question Raman’s grasp of local history.

Raman also drew attention after describing the LAPD under former Chief Daryl Gates as meeting a “gold standard.” Gates oversaw the department during the 1991 beating of Rodney King. The incident sparked riots in 1992 that lasted six days. Gates eventually left the force in June 1992. Raman clarified that her comments referred to Special Order 40, a directive implemented during Gates’ tenure that limits police cooperation with immigration enforcement. She later apologized for her initial phrasing. The exchange underscored the tension between progressive policy goals and historical perceptions of police conduct.

Both candidates targeted undecided voters in the days leading up to the election. Bass positioned herself as the candidate ready to continue work on homelessness and housing affordability. Her campaign described Raman as not yet ready for the highest office in the city. Raman, in turn, proposed plans to boost housing production and support the entertainment sector. She criticized Bass for large financial commitments, including a billion-dollar agreement to raise police salaries. The two candidates competed heavily for Black and Latino voters, as well as younger residents who tend to vote closer to Election Day. The final count will determine which platform moves forward in City Hall.