Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman launched a last-minute challenge against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the Democratic primary. Raman announced her candidacy hours before the noon filing deadline on Saturday. The progressive candidate has been called “California’s Zohran Mamdani.” Introducing… California’s Zohran Mamdani Socialist Nithya Raman announced run for Los Angeles Mayor against Karen Bass — the latest far-left Socialist seizing the Democrat Party Raman wants to defund the police & already took out an establishment Democrat incumbent pic.twitter.com/1U1cYu49pb — Ben Petersen (@bennpetersen) February 7, 2026 Fox News has more: The move by Raman, a progressive representing the city’s 4th District, signals the potential for a high-stakes June primary against a close political ally, though she has not yet qualified for the ballot. To qualify, candidates must either pay a $300 filing fee and submit at least 500 valid signatures, or submit 1,000 valid signatures without a fee, according to the Los Angeles City Clerk’s office. Nominating petitions are due by March 4. “I love this city so much and I think it needs a fighter. And I think I’ve demonstrated that I can be that fighter,” Raman said at a press conference, according to NBCLA. “And I hope the residents of Los Angeles will see that and cast their votes for me.” “This is a city of extraordinary possibility, extraordinary,” she added. “But possibility only matters if our leadership is accountable for delivering it, and I’m ready to lead this city with seriousness, with accountability, urgency and ambition that is equal to this moment.” Although Raman spoke favorably of Bass, she said the city needs “big changes.” “I have deep respect for Mayor Bass,” Raman said, according to The Hill. “We’ve worked closely together on my biggest priorities and her biggest priorities, and there’s significant alignment there. But over the last few months in particular, I’ve really begun to feel like unless we have some big changes in how we do things in Los Angeles, that the things we count on are not going to function anymore,” she continued. Political earthquake. Nithya Raman is running for mayor. Not only does this pose a serious threat to Mayor Bass, but it reframes the June primary in way that benefits down ballot progressives in other city races. pic.twitter.com/2qIFPxOxaM — Mike Bonin (@mikebonin) February 7, 2026 The Hill shared further: Raman said after leaving the city clerk’s office that Angelenos have given the city council “a lot of faith” in addressing affordable housing and homelessness, “and if we don’t show results to them, I think we will lose them,” ABC 7 Los Angeles reported. “We are making decisions about our budget that are based on political calculations, as opposed to what is best for Angelenos and what is best for Los Angeles’ middle class,” she said. “I think we can change.” She added that Los Angeles “is at a breaking point” over these issues, saying that the price of housing is “forcing families out of the city” and that there is no “clear ownership and accountability” over helping people who are homeless. Raman is the chair of the city’s Housing and Homelessness Committee. “The last thing Los Angeles needs is a politician who opposed cleaning up homeless encampments and efforts to make our city safer,” Bass’s office told The Hill about Raman’s candidacy. “Mayor Bass will continue changing L.A. by building on her track record delivering L.A.‘s first sustained decrease in street homelessness, a 60 year-low in homicides, and the most aggressive agenda our city has ever seen to make our city more affordable.” Raman was the first of three candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America to win seats on the City Council, followed by Hugo Soto-Martinez and Eunisses Hernandez. Raman defeated former City Councilmember David Ryu in 2020 and was reelected in 2024.