Los Angeles Mayor-elect Nithya Raman faces a formidable political test as she prepares to take office: winning over a City Council that voted almost unanimously for her defeated rival, former Mayor Karen Bass, to deliver on sweeping promises covering homelessness, housing and city services.

A Council Divided — But Signalling Cooperation

Not a single council colleague endorsed Raman during her mayoral campaign. Thirteen of the 14 other council members backed Bass, including fellow members of the Democratic Socialists of America. Yet within hours of Bass conceding on Thursday, nearly every councillor signalled a readiness to work with the incoming mayor.

The stakes are high: the council controls the city budget and must confirm all mayoral appointees, making its cooperation essential to any governance agenda. Council budget committee chair Katy Yaroslavsky put it plainly, saying, 'Disagreement is inevitable, but dysfunction is a choice, and we do not have the luxury right now of dysfunction.'

Raman's Agenda: Homelessness, Housing, Hollywood

Raman has outlined an ambitious three-point platform. She has pledged to halve the number of people living in tents and encampments before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, triple the city's annual housing construction, and establish a dedicated, staffed film office to bring Hollywood jobs back to the city.

In a video message released Thursday, she addressed residents who had supported Bass or sat out the election entirely. 'I am going to City Hall to work every single day to earn your trust, and to earn your trust in this city again,' Raman said.

Olive Branches From Former Opponents

Several councillors who backed Bass publicly identified areas of common ground. Councillor Hugo Soto-Martínez pointed to affordability and renter protections, saying, 'There are moments where we might not be on the same page, as with this mayoral campaign, but there's a lot that we agree on.'

Ysabel Jurado, who chairs the council's homelessness committee, pledged to be a 'committed partner' on affordable housing, safer streets and reliable services. Even sharper critics offered courtesies: Councillor Monica Rodriguez called Raman directly on Thursday, and Imelda Padilla expressed a desire to strengthen ties between the San Fernando Valley and City Hall.

Financial Constraints and Early Decisions

Raman's agenda will run into immediate fiscal headwinds. Yaroslavsky warned that the new mayor would lead Los Angeles through a 'difficult budget period', cautioning, 'We can't spend money we don't have.' Notably, Raman and Yaroslavsky were the only two council members to oppose last year's $2.6 billion Convention Centre expansion, citing financial risks — an early signal of potential alignment on fiscal discipline.

One early council decision will involve finding Raman's replacement in the 4th District. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson's office indicated an appointment was under consideration, though the city charter also allows for a special election.

Key Ally and Political Background

Beyond the council, Raman has at least one firm ally: City Controller Kenneth Mejia, the only elected City Hall official to endorse her. She has reportedly promised to let Mejia audit every dollar of city spending on homelessness — a transparency commitment that could shape public trust in the administration.

Raman is a two-term councillor who entered the mayoral race in February, shortly before the filing deadline and after having previously endorsed Bass. Bass, in turn, had supported Raman's council re-election bid two years earlier — making the arc of their political relationship an unusual one. How Raman translates a council mandate without a council mandate into functional governance will define the opening chapter of her mayorship.