Commentary: By running for mayor, Nithya Raman will learn how left L.A. really is - or isn't

"On the last day of January, hundreds of people filled the pews of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Koreatown to hear not the word of God but the gospel of the Democratic Socialists of America. It was the local chapter's bimonthly meeting and also a kickoff event for a year during which they planned to build on an already impressive foothold in L.A. politics."

"She shocked the city's political class in 2020 by beating Councilmember David Ryu - the first time in 17 years that an incumbent lost their seat. Her upset blazed the way for Hernandez and Soto-Martínez in 2022 and fellow DSAer Ysabel Jurado in 2024. They've created a progressive bloc that has helped Mayor Karen Bass implement her agenda, offering Her Honor cover from critics on the left while also pushing for democratic socialist principles such as less police spending and more intervention programs."

"Raman kept a low profile at the DSA-LA event, according to attendees. The 44-year-old listened to her colleagues' speeches and those of other hopefuls, made small talk with fellow members and then left. There was no hint that afternoon of the political earthquake she uncorked this Saturday, when Raman announced a mayoral run against longtime ally Bass. The council member described the mayor to The Times as an "icon" who nevertheless needs to be replaced because "Los Angeles is at a breaking point.""

Hundreds attended a Democratic Socialists of America-LA meeting that showcased the chapter's growing local influence and political foothold. Four DSA members hold city council seats, and current officeholders received standing ovations while urging expansive political ambitions. Nithya Raman, an early DSA insurgent who unseated an incumbent in 2020, attended the meeting quietly and later announced a mayoral campaign opposing longtime ally Mayor Karen Bass. Raman characterized the mayor as an icon but argued that Los Angeles faces a breaking point requiring new leadership. The DSA-aligned bloc has both supported and pushed Mayor Bass toward progressive policy goals.

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