South Asian-Origin ‘Democratic Socialist’ Mayors Likely to Lead Two Major US Cities

The upcoming local elections on November 3 are increasingly likely to create a historic link between two of the United States’ largest cities, New York and Los Angeles. Should the election results align with expectations, both cities will be governed by Democratic socialist leaders of South Asian descent. New York City, the country’s largest metropolis, already has Democratic Socialist Jhohran Mamdani serving as mayor. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, India-born urban planner and two-term city council member Nithya Raman is mounting a strong challenge against the incumbent Democratic mayor Karen Bass.

Karen Bass, elected in 2022, is the first woman to serve as mayor of Los Angeles. Recent polls indicate Raman holds a lead. A graduate of Harvard and MIT, Raman made history in 2020 when she became the first Asian American woman and the first South Asian elected to the Los Angeles City Council. Her political career followed advocacy work addressing homelessness and local community issues. According to a September poll conducted by Berkeley IGS / L.A. Times among likely voters, Nithya Raman enjoys 39 percent support, compared to just 28 percent backing for Mayor Karen Bass. Additionally, 33 percent of voters remain undecided.

Raman holds a commanding lead among voters under 30, with over 66 percent support. Moreover, 56 percent of voters described Mayor Bass’s handling of the Palisades wildfire as “poor” or “very poor.” Among Latino voters, Raman’s support stands at 45 percent, significantly ahead of Bass with only 21 percent backing. Speaking to the media about her views and what she terms “pothole politics,” Raman said, “If Jhohran Mamdani and I get the opportunity to lead the two largest cities in the country, it’s truly moving to me. My family came to America seeking opportunities unavailable in India during my childhood. In a time of harsh immigration policies under the Trump administration, having a city like Los Angeles welcome an immigrant as mayor would be an incredibly meaningful moment for me.” Adding context to her approach to “Democratic Socialism,” Raman emphasized its connection to local governance and service delivery rather than radicalism. She said, “Citizens are against structures that benefit only the wealthy and powerful. I want government to work for ordinary people. I like to call it ‘saver socialism’ (managing sewer systems) or ‘pothole politics’ (filling street cracks).”