Nithya Raman calls for LAPD chief's ouster in LA mayoral debate
Synopsis
At the only televised debate of the Los Angeles mayoral runoff, Indian-American councilmember Nithya Raman called for LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell's removal over ICE cooperation — and prediction markets shifted in her favour. With a $9 million outside-spending advantage and a polling lead, Raman is within reach of becoming Los Angeles's first Indian-American mayor when voters decide on 3 November.
Key Takeaways
Nithya Raman demanded the removal of LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell over the department's handling of ICE immigration raids .
Mayor Karen Bass warned that replacing the chief before the 2028 Olympics would send the LAPD into 'disarray.' Prediction market Kalshi put Raman's winning odds at 57 per cent post-debate, Bass at 43 per cent .
A September Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll showed Raman leading 39–28 per cent , with roughly a third undecided.
Outside groups have spent heavily: $3.5 million for Bass from the Police Protective League; $9 million for Raman from a carpenters' council.
The Los Angeles mayoral runoff is scheduled for 3 November ; a Raman win would make her the city's first Indian-American mayor .
Indian-American Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has demanded the removal of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Jim McDonnell, accusing the department of shielding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and stoking fear among immigrant communities. The call came during the sole televised head-to-head debate of the Los Angeles mayoral runoff, held on Tuesday, 14 October at Universal City and broadcast by NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
The LAPD Flashpoint
Raman charged that the LAPD appeared to be actively protecting ICE agents conducting immigration raids, an allegation she said was striking 'fear in the heart of immigrant communities here.' She stopped short of committing to a specific timeline for replacing McDonnell, noting, 'It is not a unilateral decision by the mayor… It's not something I can immediately set a timeline on.'
Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass pushed back forcefully, warning that replacing the chief before the 2028 Summer Olympics — which Los Angeles is set to host — would send the force into 'disarray.' 'I don't think you have any idea what it takes to identify a police chief,' Bass said.
Sharp Exchanges on Crisis and Credibility
The debate extended well beyond policing. Raman accused Bass of being 'missing in action' during the Palisades fire, framing City Hall as being in 'a crisis of trust.' Bass, for her part, offered a direct acknowledgement: 'I am so profoundly sorry that I was not in my city when my city needed me.'
The two also clashed over an Instagram video from Raman's campaign that used the phrase 'fascist liars.' Raman maintained the clip had been mis-edited and was subsequently taken down. Bass dismissed the episode, telling her opponent, 'You are not ready for prime time.'
Where the Race Stands
Post-debate assessments were divided. Politico's California Playbook found no decisive winner and noted that Raman's ties to the Democratic Socialists of America were never raised. Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez gave Bass the edge.
On the prediction market Kalshi, Raman's odds of winning nudged up to 57 per cent after the debate from 55 per cent before it, with Bass at 43 per cent. Bass had led the 2 June primary with 34 per cent to Raman's 29 per cent, but a September Berkeley IGS/Los Angeles Times poll reversed the picture, placing Raman ahead at 39 per cent against Bass's 28 per cent, with roughly a third of voters undecided. No fresh poll has been released since the debate.
Money Behind the Race
Both candidates have each raised approximately $2.5 million for the runoff. Outside spending has dwarfed their own fundraising: the Los Angeles Police Protective League has committed at least $3.5 million in support of Bass, while a carpenters' council has poured $9 million into backing Raman — roughly two-thirds of it from donor Aaron Sosnick.
What Happens Next
The runoff is scheduled for 3 November. If elected, Raman would become the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States. The outcome will shape how the city navigates its ongoing tensions with federal immigration enforcement ahead of one of the world's most high-profile sporting events.
Point of View
But it also carries the most electoral risk for Raman — police union money has already defined the Bass campaign's closing argument. Raman's failure to set a timeline for replacing McDonnell undercuts the very urgency she is projecting to immigrant-community voters. Meanwhile, Bass's Olympics-stability pitch is a defensive frame designed to make caution look like governance. The deeper question this race forces is whether a major American city's response to federal immigration enforcement can become a decisive ballot issue — and Los Angeles, heading into 2028's global spotlight, is the highest-stakes test of that proposition.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Nithya Raman calling for LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell's removal?
Raman has accused the LAPD of effectively shielding ICE agents during immigration raids, saying the department is striking fear among immigrant communities in Los Angeles. She raised the issue during the televised mayoral debate on 14 October 2026, though she did not commit to a specific timeline for the change.
What is Mayor Karen Bass's position on replacing the LAPD chief?
Bass strongly opposed the move, warning it would send the force into 'disarray' ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics. She also questioned Raman's readiness for the mayor's office, saying, 'I don't think you have any idea what it takes to identify a police chief.'
When is the Los Angeles mayoral runoff election?
The runoff between Nithya Raman and Karen Bass is scheduled for 3 November 2026. Bass led the 2 June primary with 34 per cent to Raman's 29 per cent, but subsequent polling and prediction markets have shown Raman with a lead.
Who would Nithya Raman be if she wins the Los Angeles mayoral race?
Raman would become the first Indian-American mayor of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States. Her candidacy has drawn significant national attention given both her heritage and her immigration-enforcement stance.
How much money has been spent in the Los Angeles mayor's race?
Each candidate has raised approximately $2.5 million for the runoff. Outside groups have spent far more: the Los Angeles Police Protective League has put at least $3.5 million behind Bass, while a carpenters' council has spent $9 million backing Raman, roughly two-thirds of it from donor Aaron Sosnick.
