LA mayor race: Nithya Raman apologises over Gates remark, wins Horvath backing
Synopsis
With vote centres opening on 24 October, Nithya Raman's LA mayoral bid hit two contrasting notes in a single day: an apology for invoking the divisive Daryl Gates and a meaningful county-level endorsement from Lindsey Horvath. A win would make Raman the first Indian-American mayor of the United States' second-largest city.
Key Takeaways
Nithya Raman apologised privately to a South Los Angeles community group and on a podcast for her reference to former LAPD chief Daryl Gates .
Lindsey Horvath , a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member, endorsed Raman on 20 October — the only county supervisor to do so.
Businessman Rick Caruso endorsed neither candidate but criticised Raman's plan to remove LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell .
Raman has proposed an audit of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power amid rising utility bills.
In-person voting begins 24 October ; election day is 3 November .
A Raman win would make her the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles , the second-largest US city.
Indian-American Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has issued an apology for invoking former police chief Daryl Gates in her campaign, even as she secured the endorsement of county supervisor Lindsey Horvath — all of this days before vote centres open across the city ahead of the November 3 election.
The Gates Controversy
Raman apologised privately to a South Los Angeles community group and on a podcast for her reference to Gates, according to reports citing Politico's California Playbook newsletter on Wednesday, 22 October. The Los Angeles Times had first reported the controversy on 16 October. Gates led the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during the 1992 riots and remains a deeply divisive figure in the city, particularly in South Los Angeles. The Bass campaign did not immediately respond to the apology.
Horvath Endorsement and its Significance
Lindsey Horvath, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, endorsed Raman on 20 October, the Los Angeles Times reported. She is the only county supervisor backing Raman. The endorsement gives Raman, a sitting member of the Los Angeles City Council, a prominent institutional ally as she attempts to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
Caruso Stays on the Sidelines
Businessman Rick Caruso, who lost to Bass in the 2022 mayoral race, praised the mayor but endorsed neither candidate, according to NBC Los Angeles. Caruso criticised Raman's reported plan to remove LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, arguing the city needs stability at the top of the department — a line of attack others have echoed against Raman's policing platform.
Key Campaign Issues
Policing has emerged as one of the sharpest lines of division in the race. Beyond the McDonnell question, Raman has proposed an audit of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, with high utility bills becoming a key campaign issue, according to ABC7. Bass, for her part, has highlighted her record on reducing street homelessness and the city's recovery from the January 2025 wildfires, including in Pacific Palisades. Raman has positioned herself as a progressive challenger focused on homelessness, housing affordability, and city services.
What's at Stake
In-person voting begins when 11-day vote centres open on 24 October, ahead of the final election day on 3 November. Raman, born in Kerala and raised partly in Zambia before moving to the US as a child, was first elected to the city council in 2020, becoming the first Indian-American and Asian-American woman on the council. A Raman victory would make her the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States.
Point of View
Not a strategic shift — invoking a figure synonymous with LAPD brutality during the 1992 riots in a race where South LA votes matter was an unforced error Raman had to correct quickly. The Horvath endorsement is useful but limited; a single county supervisor does not move wards. What this week really reveals is how policing has become the fault line of the race: Raman's pledge to remove Chief McDonnell is giving Caruso-aligned moderates a wedge even as she chases progressive turnout. With Bass running on wildfire recovery and homelessness numbers, Raman's path to City Hall depends on whether her reform pitch survives the law-and-order counter-narrative in the final stretch.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Nithya Raman apologise in the LA mayoral race?
Raman apologised for invoking former LAPD chief Daryl Gates in her campaign. Gates led the department during the 1992 Los Angeles riots and is a deeply divisive figure, especially in South Los Angeles, making the reference politically damaging in those communities.
Who is Lindsey Horvath and why does her endorsement matter?
Lindsey Horvath is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. She is the only county supervisor to back Raman, giving the city council member a prominent institutional ally in her bid to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
When do Los Angeles voters start casting ballots?
In-person voting begins on 24 October when 11-day vote centres open across the city, ahead of the main election day on 3 November 2026.
What is Nithya Raman's background?
Raman was born in Kerala, India, and raised partly in Zambia before moving to the United States as a child. She was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2020, becoming the first Indian-American and Asian-American woman on the council.
What would a Nithya Raman victory mean?
A Raman win would make her the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States, a historically significant milestone for the Indian-American community in US politics.
