Progressive Candidates in San Francisco, Los Angeles Look to Shake Up Races | KQED

Nithya Raman, a Los Angeles City Council member, is running to unseat Mayor Karen Bass with a focus on younger voters. Raman is an Indian-born urban planner who rose in 2020 by defeating an incumbent council member with support from the Democratic Socialists of America. On the council, Raman backed policies including limits on landlord rent increases, a $30-an-hour minimum wage for hotel workers, and opposition to police pay raises in favor of social services. Her campaign has faced attack ads funded by the police union and major real estate interests. Raman also competes against Republican Spencer Pratt, a reality TV personality who entered after the Palisades Fire and has used a high-visibility social media strategy to reach younger voters.

"Nithya Raman, a current member of the city council, is focusing on younger voters. Raman is an Indian born urban planner who burst onto the LA political scene in 2020 when she ousted an incumbent council member with the help of the Democratic Socialists of America. Like Mamdani, Raman is also a member of the DSA. "I think he and I share a vision of the city that works for all residents," she said."

"On the city council, Raman fought to lower the amount landlords can increase rents, supported a $30 an hour minimum wage for hotel workers, and opposed pay raises for police officers, saying the money should go to social services. The police union and big real estate interests in turn have spent more than a million dollars in attack ads against Raman."

"Along with Bass, Raman also faces another opponent in this election. Spencer Pratt is a Republican reality TV personality who jumped into the race after his house burned down in the Palisades Fire last year. While his policies differ from Raman, he's also shown an ability to appeal to younger voters, mainly through a catchy social media campaign that has gained millions of views."

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