Bass and Raman campaigns trading charges

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 5, 2026

Karen Bass’s mayoral campaign accused Nithya Raman of skipping a Jewish Heritage Month event to appear on a livestream where she affirmed that Israel is committing genocide in Palestine, a charge Raman’s team denied, citing illness. The dispute has intensified scrutiny of Raman’s community engagement and political positions as the race for Los Angeles mayor continues.

In a tense exchange between the mayoral campaigns of Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, accusations surfaced regarding Raman’s attendance at a recent City Council event and her appearance on a livestream hosted by a controversial political commentator.

The dispute centers on May 15, when Raman appeared on a Twitch livestream hosted by Hasan Piker, a left-wing figure known for his criticism of Israel. During the stream, Piker asked Raman if she believed Israel was committing genocide in Palestine, to which she responded affirmatively. That same day, Raman was absent from a Jewish Heritage Month event held at Los Angeles City Hall.

The Bass campaign accused Raman of skipping the event to participate in the livestream, alleging that she misrepresented her reasons for missing the City Council gathering. In a press release distributed shortly before Raman’s appearance at the Jewish Federation L.A. mayoral forum, Bass’s team claimed that Raman’s absence was not due to illness but rather a deliberate choice to prioritize the livestream.

Raman’s campaign rejected the accusations, with spokesperson Liz Garcia stating that the mayor’s camp was "deliberately spreading misinformation" contradicted by public records. According to the Raman campaign, the council member was unwell on the day in question.

Debbie Paperman, a member of the executive board of Democrats for Israel Los Angeles, corroborated that she spoke with Raman, who informed her she was not feeling well and thus missed the Jewish Heritage Month event. The event featured Councilmember Bob Blumenfield honoring Jewish athletes.

Video footage from the May 15 City Council meeting confirms that Raman was present at the start of the session but absent during the heritage event. She returned more than an hour later to deliver remarks and introduce speakers for Hapa Day, a celebration of individuals of mixed Asian-Pacific Islander heritage.

The incident has further highlighted divides between the campaigns, with Bass’s team focusing on issues of community engagement and Raman’s record on Israel-related matters, while Raman’s camp emphasizes her health and commitments to multiple cultural observances. As the mayoral race continues, these moments underscore the scrutiny both candidates face regarding their public statements and attendance at key events.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.