Nithya Raman Wins Los Angeles Mayor Race as Karen Bass Concedes Defeat

Nithya Raman has won the race for mayor of Los Angeles. The Associated Press called the contest for the city council member on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and incumbent Mayor Karen Bass conceded just before midday. Raman, 45, will become the first Asian-American mayor of Los Angeles, the first South Asian to hold the office, and only the second woman to lead the city.

With 76 percent of ballots counted, Raman led Bass by 52.1 percent to 47.9 percent — 429,450 votes to 394,796 — a margin of about 34,654 votes. The lead had grown all week: it stood at 26,124 votes on Wednesday night, and at 16,594 when the first overnight count flipped the race in Raman's favour. Bass telephoned her challenger to concede, promising "a smooth and seamless transition".

The result is a historic upset. Bass, 73, is the first incumbent mayor of Los Angeles to lose re-election in about 20 years, after a campaign defined by the January 2025 wildfires that devastated Pacific Palisades and Altadena and by the city's homelessness crisis.

Key Points

• The AP called the Los Angeles mayoral race for Nithya Raman on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and Karen Bass conceded just before midday.
• With 76% counted, Raman led 52.1% to 47.9% — 429,450 votes to 394,796 — a margin of about 34,654 votes.
• Raman, 45, becomes the first Asian-American and first South Asian mayor of Los Angeles, and only the second woman to hold the office.
• Bass, 73, is the first incumbent LA mayor to lose re-election in about 20 years, after criticism of her wildfire response.
• More than 700,000 ballots remained to be tallied Thursday morning; certification is due by November 27.

What Happened

The call came on Thursday morning, two days after Tuesday's runoff. The Associated Press declared Raman the winner as updated returns pushed her lead beyond Bass's reach, even with hundreds of thousands of ballots still uncounted. Shortly afterwards, Bass called Raman to congratulate her.

"I have called Councilmember Nithya Raman to congratulate her on her victory, and I have committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition," Bass said just before midday. The count is not finished: more than 700,000 ballots cast on Tuesday remained to be tallied countywide on Thursday morning, with daily updates until November 13 and certification by November 27.

Decision Desk HQ had already projected a Raman victory on Wednesday afternoon, when she led 51.67 percent to 48.33 percent with 67 percent counted, and Newsmax issued a similar projection. The AP call and Bass's concession now make the result official in all but the formal certification.

Background and Context

The race began as an unlikely challenge. Raman, a city council member, entered the contest only hours before the February filing deadline, having previously endorsed Bass's re-election. The campaign became a referendum on the incumbent's record, above all on the January 2025 wildfires that destroyed neighbourhoods in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.

Bass faced sustained criticism over her administration's response to the fires, including questions about preparedness and the speed of recovery. Raman, running as a democratic socialist, argued the city needed a sharper break, and she built a coalition of younger voters, renters and neighbourhood activists. A Berkeley IGS and Los Angeles Times poll in late October had the two tied at 40 percent each, with 19 percent undecided. The first returns on election night even had Bass narrowly ahead, 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent, before mail ballots counted overnight flipped the race.

Nithya Raman Los Angeles Mayor: What Her Victory Means

Raman's win carries significance well beyond City Hall. She will be the first Asian-American mayor in Los Angeles history and the first South Asian to lead the city. She is also only the second woman ever to serve as mayor, following Bass herself.

The result also fits a wider pattern in the 2026 midterms, in which voters rewarded challengers who promised a break with established leadership. Raman campaigned on moving faster on homelessness, protecting tenants and rebuilding the fire-ravaged neighbourhoods. Her supporters say the scale of the victory gives her a clear mandate; her critics warn her democratic socialist politics will complicate relations with developers and the budget office. She inherits a city still rebuilding after the wildfires, a homelessness crisis that has resisted years of spending, and a budget under strain.

Reactions and Quotes

Bass's concession statement was brief and gracious. "I have called Councilmember Nithya Raman to congratulate her on her victory, and I have committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition," she said. The tone reflected the personal respect between the two women, who had worked together on the city council before the campaign turned them into rivals.

Raman has not yet given a full victory address, but her campaign signalled she will speak once the result is certified. Supporters gathered outside City Hall on Thursday evening to celebrate, and civic leaders praised Bass's service and her promise of an orderly handover.

Why It Matters

The Los Angeles mayoral race was one of the highest-profile contests of the 2026 midterms. Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States, home to nearly four million people, and its mayor shapes policy on housing, homelessness, policing and climate resilience in ways watched across the country.

The defeat of an incumbent also sends a message about accountability. Bass's handling of the January 2025 wildfires became the defining issue of the campaign, and voters held her responsible for a response they felt had fallen short. For Raman, the challenge now is to turn a campaign of change into a government that delivers it.

What Happens Next

The count continues. Los Angeles County will publish daily updates until November 13, and the result must be certified by November 27. The remaining ballots are not expected to change the outcome, but they will determine the final margin of Raman's victory.

Raman is expected to name a transition team in the coming days. She will take office in the weeks after certification, and her first acts are likely to focus on the wildfire recovery and on housing.

Read more on the race: Raman projected to win Los Angeles mayor race; Raman widens lead as count reaches 67%; LA mayoral race erupts over Raman attack ad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Los Angeles mayoral race?
Nithya Raman won. The Associated Press called the race for her on Thursday, November 5, 2026, and incumbent Mayor Karen Bass conceded just before midday.

What was the margin?
With 76 percent counted, Raman led 52.1% to 47.9% (429,450 to 394,796), a lead of about 34,654 votes. The count is not final.

Why is Raman's victory historic?
She is the first Asian-American and first South Asian mayor of Los Angeles and only the second woman to hold the office; Bass is the first incumbent to lose re-election in about 20 years.

When will the result be certified?
Los Angeles County will publish daily updates until November 13, and the result must be certified by November 27, 2026.

What did Karen Bass say?
Bass said she had called Raman to congratulate her and had committed to "ensuring a smooth and seamless transition".