Nithya Ramans LA mayor bid plunges into chaos as civil war breaks out among Marxist backers

Nithya Raman’s Los Angeles mayoral bid has been plunged into chaos as the Democratic Socialists of America mull expelling her — just two weeks before the election.Two Marxist factions within the party have challenged the councilwoman’s endorsement over longstanding fights over Israel, Palestine and how closely she must follow their political creed.The groups, Reform & Revolution and Bread & Roses, joined forces to call for stricter political standards and accountability from candidates who get DSA backing.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story They introduced a resolution demanding that Raman answer questions about her positions on Israel and Palestine or potentially face expulsion.The proposal, submitted to the organization’s National Political Committee, calls for a members-only meeting by Oct.25, preferably with Raman present.If national leaders determine her positions remain incompatible with DSA’s anti-Zionist principles, they could vote to expel her.The rebellion comes just weeks after DSA’s Los Angeles chapter endorsed Raman in her campaign to unseat Mayor Karen Bass in the Nov.

3 election.But that endorsement was hardly unanimous.Of the 1,473 members who cast ballots in September, 937 supported Raman, while 484 opposed her and 52 abstained.That means Raman secured roughly 64% of the vote, while more than one-third of participating members either opposed her endorsement or declined to support it.Raman has frequently drawn comparisons to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, another DSA-backed politician who rose to prominence with support from the socialist movement.

But Reform & Revolution says there is a major difference: Mamdani openly embraced the organization’s anti-Zionist positions and campaigned on them, while Raman has publi...