Socialist candidate Nithya Raman has won the Los Angeles mayoral race, unseating incumbent Karen Bass by a slim margin. Raman secured 52 percent of the vote to Bass's 48 percent, according to results released Thursday after days of close counting.

Raman's victory came as part of broader Democratic midterm wins nationwide. Her campaign focused on economic issues, while Bass faced criticism for her handling of the devastating wildfires in January 2025, which caused billions in damages, as well as rising crime and homelessness rates.

The race also saw a notable, though ultimately unsuccessful, candidacy from reality TV personality Spencer Pratt. Pratt, who had hoped to force Bass into a runoff, was unexpectedly overtaken by Raman in the primary.

Raman, a city councilwoman since 2020, had previously been a challenger to an incumbent. Born in India, she moved to the U.S. at age six and later earned degrees from Harvard and MIT. After founding a homeless charity in 2017, she became known as a far-left progressive member of the city council, though she moderated some past positions, such as support for the "defund the police" movement, during her mayoral campaign.

Her candidacy was initially a surprise, as she had endorsed Bass for re-election just weeks before launching her own campaign. However, she gained traction by criticizing Bass's record, particularly her response to the January 2025 wildfires. Raman accused Bass of mismanaging the disaster, which caused over $25 billion in damage, and of being absent during the crisis by visiting Ghana.

In the closing stretch of the campaign, Bass sought to rally support with endorsements from figures like Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra and businessman Rick Caruso, whom Bass had defeated in the 2022 mayoral election. Caruso endorsed Bass, urging voters to look past past mistakes. Bass herself warned that Raman's agenda would bring "chaos" to Los Angeles and could jeopardize the city's hosting of the 2028 Olympic Games. She also raised concerns about Raman's potential dismissal of LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, predicting it would lead to an exodus of officers.

Bass publicly apologized for her absence during the wildfire crisis, stating she was "profoundly sorry" for being out of the country when her city needed her. She acknowledged the profound impact of the fires on residents, including those who lost their homes or lives.