Nithya Raman holds 11-point lead ahead of sole LA mayoral debate vs Bass
Synopsis
With mail-in ballots already out and just three weeks to Election Day, Indian-American councilmember Nithya Raman enters the only live televised debate of the LA mayoral race holding an 11-point polling lead over Mayor Karen Bass — but a third of voters remain undecided, keeping the contest genuinely open. A win on 3 November would make her the first Indian-American mayor of the second most populous US city.
Key Takeaways
Nithya Raman and Mayor Karen Bass face off in the sole live televised debate of the Los Angeles mayoral race on Tuesday, 14 October 2026 .
A UC Berkeley IGS poll gives Raman 39% to Bass's 28% among likely voters, an 11-point lead .
33% of likely voters remained undecided; the poll was conducted 15–20 September before ballots were sent out.
Among likely Latino voters, Raman leads Bass 45% to 21% .
If elected, Raman, 45 , would be the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles , the second most populous US city.
Election Day is 3 November 2026 ; mail-in ballots are already in circulation.
Indian-American City Councilmember Nithya Raman will square off against incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday, 14 October 2026, in the only live televised debate of the Los Angeles mayoral race, entering the contest with an 11-point lead in the latest available polling even as a sizeable share of voters remains uncommitted. The debate arrives at a pivotal moment: mail-in ballots have already landed in voters' hands, and Election Day on 3 November is just three weeks away.
Where the Race Stands
A poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, placed Raman at 39 per cent among likely voters against 28 per cent for Bass — a gap of 11 percentage points. Crucially, 33 per cent of likely voters remained undecided at the time of the survey, leaving the contest far from settled. The online poll surveyed 2,150 likely city voters between 15 and 20 September and carried a margin of error of approximately 3 percentage points. Notably, the survey was completed before ballots were dispatched to households.
Among likely Latino voters, Raman's lead widened further: she registered 45 per cent support compared with 21 per cent for Bass, with 34 per cent still undecided in that cohort.
Bass Pushes Back, Contest Turns Bitter
Mayor Bass has publicly disputed the polling picture, stating she does not view Raman as the frontrunner, according to reports citing Fox 11 Los Angeles. The race has also grown increasingly acrimonious in recent days, with the city's police department emerging as a flashpoint between the two candidates.
Both are Democrats and were long-standing political allies until Raman entered the race on the final day of filing in February. Raman had publicly endorsed Bass at the start of the year before launching her own campaign weeks later, telling reporters the city 'can't seem to manage the basics,' according to the Los Angeles Times.
Road to the Runoff
Los Angeles mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan. When no candidate secures a majority in the June primary, the two top finishers advance to a November runoff — the format that produced this matchup. Raman placed second behind Bass in the June primary, ahead of former reality television personality Spencer Pratt. Most Pratt supporters have not yet committed to either runoff candidate, which analysts cite as the primary driver of the high undecided share.
Historic Significance for Indian-Americans
If elected, Raman, 45, would become the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles — the second most populous city in the United States. Born in India, she moved to the US as a child and was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2020. Her candidacy is part of a broader wave of Indian-American candidates seeking historic electoral milestones in the 3 November elections.
Key Debate Issues
Homelessness, housing affordability, public safety, economic development, and the city's preparations for the 2028 Olympics are expected to dominate the debate agenda, according to LAist. With a large bloc of undecided voters still in play and ballots already circulating, Tuesday's televised face-off could be the most consequential single event left in the race.
Point of View
But the 33 per cent undecided figure is the number that actually governs this race. Raman's public endorsement of Bass followed swiftly by a primary challenge has left her with a credibility question she has not fully answered — and Bass, as an incumbent, will press it hard in the one forum where both candidates stand on equal footing. The Spencer Pratt bloc is the wild card: those voters broke from the mainstream primary field for a reason, and neither candidate has yet offered a compelling reason for them to commit. Raman's potential to become the first Indian-American mayor of a top-two US city is historically significant, but the undecided math means this debate may matter more than any single event in the race.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Los Angeles mayoral debate between Nithya Raman and Karen Bass?
The sole live televised debate between Nithya Raman and Mayor Karen Bass is scheduled for Tuesday, 14 October 2026. It is the only live TV debate of the Los Angeles mayoral race before Election Day on 3 November.
What do the latest polls show in the LA mayoral race?
A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times, showed Raman at 39 per cent and Bass at 28 per cent among likely voters — an 11-point gap. However, 33 per cent of likely voters were still undecided at the time of the survey, conducted 15–20 September.
Who is Nithya Raman and why is her candidacy historic?
Nithya Raman, 45, is an Indian-American Los Angeles City Councilmember first elected in 2020. If she wins the November 3 election, she would become the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States.
What are the key issues in the Los Angeles mayoral race?
Homelessness, housing affordability, public safety, economic development, and the city's readiness for the 2028 Olympics are expected to be the central debate topics, according to LAist. The city's police department has also emerged as a recent point of contention between the two candidates.
How did the Raman vs Bass runoff come about?
Los Angeles mayoral elections are nonpartisan; if no candidate wins a majority in the June primary, the top two advance to a November runoff. Raman finished second behind Bass in the June primary, ahead of Spencer Pratt, triggering the current runoff contest.
