Who is Nithya Raman, the socialist to be LAs next mayor?

Nithya Raman will become Los Angeles’ 44th mayor after beating incumbent Karen Bass in a hard-fought battle to lead America’s second-largest city.The 45-year-old City Council member, who’s expected to take office next month, secured victory in the November 3 election by tapping into voters’ frustrations over Bass’ tenure.As a member of both the Democratic Socialist of America and Democratic Party, Raman has vowed to fix the homeless crisis in LA and bring in more affordable housing.Here’s what you need to know about Raman’s background and her rise to power.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story What to know about her upbringing and familyRaman was born in 1981 in Kerala, India. Her father worked a public-sector job while her mother worked for a bank in India.When she was 6 years old, Raman moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, before relocating with her mother to Burlington, Mass.Raman is a practicing Hindu.She became a naturalized American citizen at the age of 22.What to know about her educationIn 2003, Raman graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in social studies.In 2008, she earned her master’s degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.After graduation, she went back to India to work in Delhi and Chennai as an urban planner, focusing on services like sanitation.In 2013, she returned to the US to live in Los Angeles, where she worked for the city administrative office.What to know about her husbandRaman is married to television writer and producer Vail Chandrasekaran.The two met as Harvard students and tied the knot in 2010.Chandrasekaran was born in Athens, Penn., and has worked on such TV series as “Modern Family,” “30 Rock,” and “My Name is Earl.”The couple has 10-year-old twins, a son ...