Democratic Socialists of America Weigh Expelling Nithya Raman Weeks Before LA Mayor Election

Nithya Raman’s campaign for Los Angeles mayor is facing internal turmoil from within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), with two Marxist factions calling for her potential expulsion just two weeks before the election.

The groups, Reform & Revolution and Bread & Roses, have united to demand stricter political standards and accountability from candidates endorsed by the DSA. They introduced a resolution that calls for Raman to address questions regarding her positions on Israel and Palestine, or risk losing the party's backing.

A members-only meeting is scheduled for October 25, with Raman ideally present, to discuss the resolution. If the DSA's national leadership determines her stances are incompatible with the organization's anti-Zionist principles, a vote could be held to expel her.

This challenge follows the DSA's Los Angeles chapter endorsement of Raman in her bid to unseat Mayor Karen Bass. However, this endorsement was not unanimous. In September, 64% of the 1,473 voting members supported Raman, while over a third opposed her or abstained.

Reform & Revolution stated in an October 19th release that the DSA's Los Angeles chapter violated national endorsement requirements. The caucus also claimed Raman's political positions conflict with the organization's socialist agenda, arguing she does not publicly identify as a socialist nor actively advocate for socialism. They further questioned whether Raman views the DSA as more than a mere political ally.

Past friction between Raman and the organization includes a 2024 censure by DSA-LA over her relationship with Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles, though the chapter maintained its support for her city council re-election. Raman also publicly diverged from national DSA's response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.

The current dispute is largely centered on Resolution 22, a national DSA policy that outlines requirements regarding the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Reform & Revolution alleges DSA-LA did not adequately question Raman about BDS prior to her endorsement, despite her past opposition to the movement. Under DSA rules, members who consistently and publicly oppose BDS and Palestinian liberation could face expulsion through a two-thirds vote of the National Political Committee.

The proposal allows Raman an opportunity to explain or modify her positions before any expulsion vote. This internal conflict also highlights a broader power struggle between national socialist activists and the DSA's Los Angeles chapter, which has defended Raman amid her policy disagreements with the organization. National leaders reportedly questioned DSA-LA's endorsement of Raman, but the local chapter defended her compliance with organizational rules, an explanation the Reform & Revolution caucus rejected.

The Post reached out to Bread & Roses and Reform & Revolution for comment.