Nithya Raman, an Indian-American politician originally from Kerala, has secured her spot in the upcoming November run-off election for Mayor of Los Angeles. After overcoming a challenge from a Trump-backed Republican rival, Raman will now face incumbent Karen Bass. A product of Harvard and MIT, Raman made history in 2020 as the first South Asian person and first Asian-American woman elected to the Los Angeles City Council. Her political platform is deeply rooted in progressive advocacy, with a primary focus on affordable housing, rent control, and innovative strategies to combat the city’s homelessness crisis.

Before rising through the ranks of American politics, Raman managed a non-profit in Chennai dedicated to securing political rights and sanitation access for marginalized communities. Now a mother of twins and a key figure among the city council’s Democratic Socialists, she is pushing for significant reform, including a goal to halve the number of people living in encampments before the 2028 Olympics. Despite her electoral success, her rise has sparked controversy among high-profile conservatives; both Donald Trump and Elon Musk have publicly questioned her victory, with Trump even alleging election interference—a claim that underscores the intensifying political polarization surrounding her campaign.