After Mamdani, Indian-origin Los Angeles mayor candidate steals spotlight. Meet Nithya Raman

Political observers have drawn immediate comparisons between Zohran Mamdani, the Indian‑origin New York mayor whose progressive, grassroots‑powered campaign stunned American politics last year, and Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman. (Image credit: AFP)

After Zohran Mamdani took New York and the Indian diaspora worldwide by storm with his mayoral campaign and eventual victory, another Indian-origin politician is gearing up for a mayoral race. This time, the battleground is Los Angeles and the contender is Nithya Raman.

Raman, who was born in Kerala and moved to the US at six, has emerged as the most closely watched candidate in the 2026 Los Angeles mayoral race as she shakes up what had been a largely uncontested contest. The 44-year-old entered the race just hours before the filing deadline, instantly transforming the electoral landscape and capturing national attention, The Guardian reported.

A progressive challenger in a crowded field

Raman’s entry pits her against incumbent mayor Karen Bass and a broad lineup of contenders across the political spectrum. Backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, Raman previously defeated an incumbent to win her council seat in 2020, marking one of LA’s most significant progressive upsets.

Her campaign launch speech underscored a sense of urgency, saying Los Angeles is “at a breaking point,” citing worsening affordability, homelessness, safety concerns and the city’s inability to “manage the basics.” She argued the city needs a mayor willing to overhaul systems and demand accountability from city departments.

Actor Mindy Kaling and Nithya Raman speak onstage during Mindy Kaling's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony on February 18, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Image credit: AFP)

Born in Kerala, forged in Los Angeles politics

After moving to the US from Kerala, Raman later studied political theory at Harvard and urban planning at MIT. Before entering electoral politics, she worked extensively in urban planning and co‑founded a homelessness advocacy coalition in LA — issues that now anchor her mayoral agenda.

Her experience with inequality in India continues to shape her political worldview. She has said that growing up near stark economic divides taught her to recognise systemic inequities early, a perspective she brought into her public service in Los Angeles.

In a recent interview with Diya TV, she asserted that "service is important". “I’m an urban planner by training. I love cities. I love LA. I think LA is the most incredible city I’ve ever had the pleasure of living in," Raman said. "It’s a miracle of diversity and inclusion, and it’s a place where people come to build their dreams.”

Councilmember Nithya Raman attends Women's March Action: March 4 Reproductive Rights at Pershing Square on October 02, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Image credit: AFP)

The Mamdani parallel

Political observers have drawn immediate comparisons between Raman and Zohran Mamdani, the Indian‑origin New York mayor whose progressive, grassroots‑powered campaign stunned American politics last year. Raman, also backed by DSA and propelled by urban‑policy activism, is now being seen as the West Coast’s equivalent — a candidate capable of mobilising young, left‑leaning voters at scale.

Her unexpected challenge to Bass — once an ally whom she endorsed — has been described as a “plot twist” that has electrified the race, with Bass’s supporters now mobilising aggressively in response. The Guardian noted that Raman could become a formidable contender capable of supplanting an incumbent, much like Mamdani did.