Nithya Raman, a progressive Los Angeles city council member and left-wing candidate running on a democratic socialist platform, has advanced to a November runoff for mayor. She will face incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in an unexpected matchup between two Democrats and former political allies to run the city of nearly 4 million people.
Raman secured the second spot in the race by edging out Trump-backed Republican candidate Spencer Pratt. On election night, Raman appeared as if she were prepared to lose the position to Pratt, whose viral campaign had seemed on track to upend the contest.
The election will test whether voters in the heavily Democratic city want to move further to the political left to address long-running problems. These issues include climbing rent and home prices, homelessness, and buckled streets and sidewalks.