From Kerala to LA mayoral race: Why Nithya Raman wants to be more than ‘West Coast Mamdani’

Although the two politicians share several political similarities, Raman has pushed back against comparisons that portray her as a West Coast version of the Democratic Socialist leader.

She says her campaign is shaped by her own political journey and the everyday challenges confronting Los Angeles.

“Mamdani is one of the most popular politicians in America right now, and I’m very grateful to be compared to someone who is that skilled as a communicator and a leader. But I am different. I am myself,” Raman told Vanity Fair in an interview.

Why Raman rejects the Mamdani comparison

Raman and Mamdani have several things in common. Both have received backing from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), were born outside the United States into South Asian families and have used social media to build their political profiles.

Their campaigns have also drawn support from voters dissatisfied with established political leadership.

Photo: Flickr/Nithya Raman For Mayor

However, Raman’s campaign has focused largely on Los Angeles’ civic problems, particularly housing affordability, homelessness and the delivery of public services, The New York Times reported.

She has called for greater oversight of homelessness programmes, stronger accountability within city departments, improved tenant protections and long-term infrastructure planning.

Unlike Mamdani’s broader political messaging, Raman has presented her proposals as practical changes to the way Los Angeles is administered.

Some of her positions have also placed her at odds with sections of the Left.

She has sought changes to a voter-approved mansion tax after concerns emerged that the measure was discouraging apartment construction.

From Kerala to the US

Raman was born in Kerala into a Tamil family and moved to the United States when she was six.

She grew up in Louisiana before her family eventually settled in Massachusetts.

She graduated from Harvard University and went on to earn a master's degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

After completing her education, Raman returned to India and founded Transparent Chennai, a research group that focused on civic concerns, including sanitation and environmental issues.

Nithya Raman lives in the US with her family. Photo: Flickr/Nithya Raman For Mayor

She moved to Los Angeles in 2013 with her husband and became involved in neighbourhood-level initiatives addressing homelessness.

She also co-founded the SELAH Neighbourhood Homeless Coalition, an organisation that helped shape her involvement in local politics.

From neighbourhood activism to City Council

Raman entered electoral politics after becoming frustrated with what she viewed as the lack of response from her local representative to concerns over housing and shelter.

She contested the Los Angeles City Council election in 2020 and defeated the incumbent.

Photo: Flickr/Nithya Raman For Mayor

Four years later, she retained her seat after facing a well-funded electoral challenge.

Her mayoral campaign has gathered momentum amid dissatisfaction with the city's current administration.

However, Raman's political trajectory and the local issues driving her campaign differ from the circumstances behind Mamdani's rise in New York.

A mayoral contest with wider significance

Raman now faces the challenge of converting her support into a mandate to lead Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States.

The city's preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games are expected to add to the responsibilities facing its next mayor, placing infrastructure, public services and urban planning among the key issues.

Photo: Flickr/Nithya Raman For Mayor

If elected, Raman would become the first South Asian woman to serve as mayor of Los Angeles.