Nithya Raman defeats Bass to become next L.A. mayor

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Set us as preferred Nithya Raman will be the next mayor of Los Angeles, making her the first challenger to defeat an incumbent L.A.mayor in more than two decades.Mayor Karen Bass called Raman on Thursday to concede the race, after the latest tally from Tuesday’s election showed Raman with 52% of the vote compared with 48% for Bass, with 76% of the expected votes counted.

“Los Angeles, I’m deeply honored to be your next mayor,” Raman, 45, said in a video statement.“I also wanted to pay tribute to Mayor Karen Bass, someone who has given decades of her life to making this city what it is today.”Bass, 73, thanked her supporters and said she accepted the decision of the voters.

“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, the people of Los Angeles have spoken,” Bass said in a statement.“I have called Councilmember Nithya Raman to congratulate her on her victory, and I have committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition.

Moving this city forward is what Los Angeles needs from all of us.”“Four years ago, you elected me as the first Black woman mayor in the history of Los Angeles,” Bass said.“You gave me the honor of serving the city that raised me, and every single day since, I have carried that responsibility with me.” Raman’s win capped off a historic sprint of a campaign.

The city council member entered the mayoral race in the final hours before the filing deadline after deciding to run the night before, going up against a onetime ally in a move that infuriated elected Democrats in L.A.who nearly unanimously supported Bass in her reelection bid.The initial vote count after polls closed Tuesday night had Raman slightly behind Bass, but analysts saw it as a sign that Raman would win.

Polls have consistently shown Raman to be heavily favored by younger, more progressive voters, who tend to tu...