Los Angeles Voters Have No Good Option
The mayoral race in Los Angeles features a young democratic socialist, Nithya Raman, challenging the incumbent Karen Bass. Raman's campaign focuses on housing affordability but lacks the charisma and experience needed to inspire voters. As the election approaches, both candidates face significant weaknesses that may hinder the city's progress regardless of the outcome.
- ▪Nithya Raman is a young Indian American democratic socialist running against incumbent Karen Bass in Los Angeles.
- ▪Raman has been criticized for her lack of charisma and ineffective campaigning strategies.
- ▪The election is heavily influenced by the pressing issue of homelessness in Los Angeles.
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PoliticsLos Angeles Voters Have No Good OptionThe mayoral race is a staging ground for three of the most unfortunate tendencies in American politics.By Marc NovicoffIllustration by The Atlantic*May 31, 2026, 7:30 AM ET ShareSave It’s happening again. In a big American city, a young Indian American democratic socialist is trying to unseat an unpopular Black incumbent on a platform of housing affordability. This time, the arena is not New York City but Los Angeles. Nithya Raman, the insurgent, has fashioned herself as a Zohran Mamdani of the West. Karen Bass, the embattled incumbent, is fighting to stay in office and make sure that lightning doesn’t strike on opposite coasts.But the similarities mostly end there.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
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