Nithya Raman, a Los Angeles City Councilmember representing a district encompassing Los Feliz, the Hollywood Hills, and Sherman Oaks, reflected on her tenure and political ambitions in an interview. Elected in 2020 after defeating incumbent David Ryu and reelected in 2024, Raman has positioned herself as a progressive voice on issues such as tenants’ rights, housing, and homelessness.
Born in India and raised in the United States from the age of six, Raman holds degrees from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before entering politics, she founded a nonprofit focused on homelessness outreach in Los Angeles.
During her council service, Raman has been instrumental in advancing tenant protections, including the passage of Universal Just Cause eviction protections and enhancements to relocation support for displaced renters. She also played a key role in establishing a landlord notification system to alert the city about upcoming evictions, allowing more proactive assistance to tenants. From 2023 until a recent council reorganization, she chaired the Housing and Homelessness Committee.
Raman acknowledged her decision to enter the 2026 mayoral race late in the process strained relationships with many of her council colleagues, who have largely thrown their support behind front-runner Karen Bass. In the interview, she said her candidacy is motivated by a desire to address what she sees as mounting challenges in the city.
Criticizing Mayor Bass’s handling of the January Palisades wildfire, Raman described the response and recovery efforts as unprepared and slow. On the contentious issue of police funding, she outlined an evolution in her stance, noting her initial support for defunding the Los Angeles Police Department shifted to backing budgets that maintain or increase staffing levels. Raman emphasized the necessity of a timely police presence for emergency response, stating there is currently no viable alternative to the LAPD for 911 calls.
Addressing homelessness, Raman highlighted Hollywood as a significant area for encampments, observing that cycles of clearance are often followed by repopulation due to displaced individuals moving within the city. She advocates for coordinated outreach efforts that combine police involvement with social services targeting substance abuse and other factors contributing to public safety concerns.
Raman also spoke about her collaborations with activist organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America, welcoming their input while stressing accountability to the broader constituency.
Reflecting on her political inspirations, Raman cited several former Los Angeles leaders, including Tom LaBonge, Tom Bradley, Richard Riordan, James K. Hahn, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Eric Garcetti, recognizing their varied contributions to city governance.
Emphasizing her personal commitment to Los Angeles, Raman characterized the mayoral bid as her final political campaign, driven by a passion to improve the city amid challenging times. “I just really love L.A. I’m running because it feels like it’s really, really struggling right now. And someone needs to stand up and fight for the changes that can make it better,” she said.