--- title: Democratic Socialist Mayors Will Now Run LA, New York, and D.C. description: Progressive Nithya Raman has defeated Los Angeles' incumbent mayor, Democrat Karen Bass, to become the city's next leader. canonical: https://time.com/article/2026/11/05/democratic-socialist-mayors-la-dc-new-york-city-nithya-raman-election/ author: Chantelle Lee article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-11-05T20:08:16.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-11-05T20:32:45.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Democratic Socialist Mayors Will Now Run LA, New York, and D.C. og:description: Progressive Nithya Raman has defeated Los Angeles' incumbent mayor, Democrat Karen Bass, to become the city's next leader. og:url: https://time.com/article/2026/11/05/democratic-socialist-mayors-la-dc-new-york-city-nithya-raman-election/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta0fadc93aa2c84b6/6aece09a4eb3c76856179502/nithya-raman-la-mayor-midterm-elections.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: nithya-raman-la-mayor-midterm-elections.jpg og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Democratic Socialist Mayors Will Now Run LA, New York, and D.C. twitter:description: Progressive Nithya Raman has defeated Los Angeles' incumbent mayor, Democrat Karen Bass, to become the city's next leader. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta0fadc93aa2c84b6/6aece09a4eb3c76856179502/nithya-raman-la-mayor-midterm-elections.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Democratic Socialist Mayors Will Now Run LA, New York, and D.C. After Nithya Raman’s Win > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=3ee251dd-99bf-40cc-8a06-16fbd241912d&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) by [Chantelle Lee](https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Reporter Updated: Nov 5, 2026 8:32 PM UTCPublished: Nov 5, 2026 8:08 PM UTC  Mayoral candidate Nithya Raman holds her election night party at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on November 3, 2026. Mayoral candidate Nithya Raman holds her election night party at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on November 3, 2026. Sarah Reingewirtz—MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News/Getty Images by [Chantelle Lee](https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Reporter Updated: Nov 5, 2026 8:32 PM UTCPublished: Nov 5, 2026 8:08 PM UTC Listen 00:001.0x04:45 Narrated by TIME AI. Democratic socialists will soon be running [three major](https://time.com/article/2026/06/17/DC-mayor-race-Janeese-Lewis-George-DSA-democratic-socialists-midterm/) [U.S. cities](https://time.com/7308924/zohran-mamdani-interview-time/), now that progressive [Nithya Raman](https://time.com/article/2026/06/09/nithya-raman-progressive-democrat-la-mayor-race-karen-bass-alternative/) has defeated Los Angeles’ incumbent mayor. The Associated Press called the race for Raman on Thursday afternoon, with the Democratic socialist winning 52.1% of the vote and current Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, earning 47.9%, with 76% of votes counted. Raman celebrated her victory in a video statement she [shared](https://x.com/nithyavraman/status/2118438804063445171) on social media. She went on to say that she had spoken with the outgoing mayor and thanked Bass for years of service to the community. “Los Angeles, I’m deeply honored to be your next mayor,” Raman said. “I love this city and I love its people and I cannot wait to get started on building a better future together with all of you. Thank you so much Los Angeles.” Raman, a City Council member and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, will be the first Asian American to ever lead California’s most populous city. Her victory is also the latest in a string of triumphs for the progressive wing of the Democratic party, notable among them Democratic socialist [Zohran Mamdani](https://time.com/7308924/zohran-mamdani-interview-time/)’s [win](https://time.com/7331192/zohran-mamdani-wins-nyc-mayor-race/) in the New York City mayoral race last year. And on Tuesday, [Janeese Lewis George](https://time.com/article/2026/06/17/DC-mayor-race-Janeese-Lewis-George-DSA-democratic-socialists-midterm/)—another member of the Democratic Socialists of America—was elected to be the next mayor of Washington, D.C. **Read More:** [_What Is a Democratic Socialist?_](https://time.com/article/2026/06/18/what-is-a-democratic-socialist-mamdani-lewis-george-bernie-sanders-aoc/) Raman entered the race in LA late, and her announcement came as a surprise to many, given that she had previously backed Bass’ re-election bid. In June, Raman defeated Republican former reality star [Spencer Pratt](https://time.com/article/2026/05/21/spencer-pratt-trump-los-angeles-mayor-endorsement/), who President Donald Trump had favored in the race, to advance to the general election. During her campaign, she has [emphasized](https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc1QExAO-yX/) her desire “to build a city that works for everyone.” Bass’ loss comes despite endorsements for her campaign from political heavyweights in the state, including [former Vice President Kamala Harris](https://www.instagram.com/p/DX7nF24Ekfk/) and [Gov. Gavin Newsom](https://x.com/KarenBassLA/status/2060008868709908907). While she has garnered support from such figures, she has been unpopular with the city’s residents, with many criticizing her response to the [devastating wildfires](https://time.com/7205622/california-wildfires-climate-change-conditions/) that ripped through the southern part of the state last year. Bass conceded the race on Thursday afternoon, saying in a [statement](https://x.com/KarenBassLA/status/2118428093220286633/photo/3) that she had called Raman to offer congratulations. “While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken,” Bass said. “I have committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition. Moving this city forward is what Los Angeles needs from all of us.” Raman had the backing of major progressives, including Independent [Sen. Bernie Sanders](https://time.com/4121126/bernie-sanders-democratic-socialism/) of Vermont. She has advocated for a number of progressive policies, including ones focused on reducing housing costs and bolstering protections for tenants. Housing is one of the top issues for LA voters: A [poll](https://labcinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/LA-Housing-Issues-Survey-Deck-4.22.26-FINAL.pdf) conducted by the LABC Institute in April found that respondents ranked homelessness, the cost of living, and housing affordability as top problems. Raman has also publicly criticized the Trump Administration, particularly over its immigration enforcement operations in the city, and has [said](https://www.nithyaforthecity.com/platform/immigration) that “elected officials in LA have simply not stepped up to protect residents in the way that we all deserve.” Raman has [said](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBhk%5FEry8n8&t=3826s), though, that, like Mamdani in New York, she would work with the Trump Administration as needed for the sake and well-being of city residents. Mamdani, who campaigned on [ambitious promises](https://time.com/7331036/mamdani-nyc-mayor-election-campaign-promises/) to make life more affordable for New Yorkers, sent shockwaves through the Democratic establishment with his victory last year and has since established himself as a rising star in the party. In his first year leading the city he has pursued a progressive policy agenda as he has moved to make good on several of his campaign pledges, [announcing](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/nyregion/mamdani-to-expand-2-k-program-on-staten-island-and-in-the-bronx.html) the approaching rollout of an expansion in free child care in the city, [implementing](https://time.com/article/2026/08/12/zohran-mamdani-pied-a-terre-second-home-tax-trump-explainer/) a tax on high-end second homes, and [winning approval](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/nyregion/nyc-rent-freeze-vote-mamdani.html) for a rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments, among a number of other moves. On the campaign trail in the nation’s capital, Lewis George similarly made expanding [affordable housing](https://janeesefordc.com/platform/homes-for-all/) and [universal childcare](https://janeesefordc.com/platform/childcare-for-all/) cornerstones of her platform. The incoming D.C. mayor has also pledged to resist Trump’s crackdown in D.C., while [saying](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/trump-says-he-will-meet-with-lewis-george-but-wont-let-dc-be-destroyed-in-post/4122979/) she’s “willing to work with anyone, including the Administration, to improve the lives of DC residents.” “I’ll be the mayor of the corner store,” Lewis George said in an [acceptance speech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsCB1255USk) Tuesday night, “and the corner office.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/11/05/democratic-socialist-mayors-la-dc-new-york-city-nithya-raman-election/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/11/05/democratic-socialist-mayors-la-dc-new-york-city-nithya-raman-election/"},"headline":"Democratic Socialist Mayors Will Now Run LA, New York, and D.C. 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