Councilmember Nithya Raman on Wednesday cast the November mayoral runoff as a choice between change and the status quo, arguing that Los Angeles voters are frustrated with City Hall and ready for new leadership.
Addressing reporters for the first time since The Associated Press projected a November runoff between her and Mayor Karen Bass, Raman said residents are losing faith in the city’s ability to solve even basic problems and are demanding a different approach.
“Angelenos are hungry for change, so am I,” Raman said. “That’s why I ran, and that’s why I intend to bring new urgency to City Hall so we can bring change to this city.”
Raman secured a place in the runoff after late-counted ballots pushed her ahead of former reality television star Spencer Pratt, who had led her on election night.
Throughout the primary campaign, Raman cast herself as a systems-focused challenger who argued City Hall has failed to act with sufficient urgency on issues ranging from homelessness and housing affordability to infrastructure and basic city services.
She has criticized what she describes as costly and ineffective homelessness programs, questioned major city spending decisions and called for stronger accountability across city departments.
On Wednesday, Raman said her administration would focus on lowering housing costs, protecting renters, reducing homelessness, improving city services, strengthening emergency response systems, supporting small businesses and fighting to retain jobs in the entertainment industry.
“That’s the minimum City Hall owes Angelenos, and I plan to deliver it and more,” she said.
Raman also sought to draw a contrast with Bass, arguing that powerful political interests have too much influence over City Hall and have contributed to public frustration with local government.
“The mayor has the entire political machine behind her,” Raman said.
She pointed to Bass’ support for the multibillion renovation of the Los Angeles Convention Center while the city faces a budget crisis, arguing the decision reflected misplaced priorities.
“That arrangement not only fails Angelenos, but it erodes their trust that the city can solve even our most basic problems,” Raman said. “This campaign has shown that Angelenos are done being last in line. I want to restore trust in City Hall.”
Raman also acknowledged the support that Spencer Pratt attracted during the primary and what she believed it reflected about the mood of the electorate.
“I know many people in this city voted for Spencer Pratt, who gave voice to the fear and anger so many in this city are feeling right now,” she said. “I don’t think Spencer Pratt was the candidate L.A. needed in this moment, but I understand why he was able to cultivate support.”
Raman said those concerns stem from a broader sense that City Hall is failing to address residents’ concerns.
“People in this city are frustrated with the conditions on our streets, and they can feel an absence of leadership here,” she said. “They can feel that the city is not working, and they are sick of it.”
The appearance came one day after Bass held a downtown campaign kickoff, where Bass highlighted her administration’s efforts to reduce homelessness, invest in public safety programs and support the entertainment industry while criticizing Raman on those issues.
“This November, voters will have a clear choice between myself and Nithya Raman, a difference that is made crystal clear because we have been changing L.A.,” Bass said.
Bass also accused Raman of repeatedly opposing efforts to address encampments near schools and increase police staffing.
Asked about those criticisms Wednesday, Raman defended her record and argued the city needs a different approach.
On public safety, Raman said city leaders have focused too heavily on increasing police staffing without doing enough to reduce demands on officers through alternative response programs.
“We’ve done nothing to reduce call loads on LAPD to make sure that police can do what only police can do,” she said.
She said the city’s immediate goal should be maintaining the department’s current size by hiring enough officers to offset attrition.
“I want to make sure that we’re delivering on public safety in a realistic way,” she said.
On homelessness, Raman rejected suggestions that she supports encampments near schools and defended her opposition to some applications to the city’s anti-camping ordinance.
“I want to say, unequivocally, that I do not want encampments near schools,” she said.
While acknowledging policy disagreements with colleagues on how best to address street homelessness, Raman argued the city should focus on directing resources toward strategies that have been proven to move people indoors.
“If council members want to put forward these zones in their district, as mayor, I would not stand in their way,” she said. “But what I would be doing is making sure that every day the city is working towards actually addressing street homelessness with the most evidence-backed and effective policies there are.”
Raman also pushed back on criticism of her commitment to the entertainment industry, citing both personal ties and policy proposals aimed at retaining production in Los Angeles.
“I would absolutely be the strongest, loudest advocate for this industry that it needs, and that it needs from the mayor’s seat,” she said.
The matchup emerged after Raman erased a roughly 40,000-vote election night deficit against Pratt and overtook him in subsequent ballot count updates. The AP projected Monday that Raman would advance to the November runoff.
As of Wednesday afternoon’s latest update from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Bass led the field with 34.3% of the vote, followed by Raman with 29.0% and Pratt with 25.5%.