Overview
- The Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America voted to endorse Nithya Raman after an online membership vote in which roughly 1,400 people participated and she won more than 60 percent support, following a narrow 3‑to‑2 recommendation from the chapter’s electoral committee.
- Unite HERE Local 11 announced its backing this week, committing a hospitality‑workers union base and field resources that give Raman new labor organizing capacity in parts of the city.
- The Bass campaign quickly used the DSA endorsement to cast Raman as too extreme on policing and encampment policy, citing her past council votes and positions on moving homeless encampments near schools.
- Practically, the endorsements add door‑to‑door volunteers and neighborhood canvasses to Raman’s effort, but most major unions and establishment groups continue to back Bass and current polling and fundraising generally favor the incumbent.
- Raman’s endorsement highlights ongoing tensions on the left — she was censured by DSA‑LA in 2024 over outreach to a pro‑Israel group and has split with the chapter on a local mansion tax and policing — a divide that will shape how voters judge her coalition and whether grassroots organizing converts to broader citywide support.