Why the Comparison with Mamdani?  (Mamdani ) 

Los Angeles: The name of yet another Indian-American is currently making waves in American politics, and she is being compared to New York City Council member Zohran Mamdani.    (Mamdani )   That name is Nithya Raman. Nithya Raman is a candidate in the Los Angeles mayoral election. Although she decided to enter the race relatively late, her popularity has surged rapidly, and she has emerged as a strong contender to win the election.

Nithya Raman was born on July 28, 1981, in Kerala, India. Her family settled in the United States when she was six years old. She obtained her U.S. citizenship at the age of 22. Following this, she completed her education. Later, she became active in social work and politics. In February 2026, she decided to run for mayor, and she has since become one of the most talked-about political figures in the United States.

Educated at Harvard University
Nithya Raman is a member of the Los Angeles City Council and is currently a prominent topic of discussion in the mayoral race. This is why her name is circulating widely across the U.S., particularly within the political spheres of California and Los Angeles. Nithya is a Harvard University alumna (undergraduate) and holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from MIT. She is an activist who has worked extensively on issues concerning homelessness and women’s rights. She is affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Her Political Career
Nithya won the election for Los Angeles City Council District 4 in 2020. She became the first South Asian and the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Los Angeles City Council. She was re-elected to this position in 2024. She is now running for Mayor of Los Angeles. She had initially supported incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, but in February, she decided to launch her own mayoral bid. She has emerged as a formidable challenger to Bass. In some polls, she even appears to be leading.

Why the comparison with Mamdani?
Both Mamdani and Nithya are affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Mamdani rose to prominence in New York as a DSA-backed candidate and went on to become Mayor. Meanwhile, Nithya Raman won a Council election in Los Angeles in 2020. She was the first DSA candidate to achieve such a level of success. Mamdani traces his roots to Gujarat, while Nithya hails from Kerala; this shared background is the reason behind the comparisons being drawn between the two. Furthermore, the politics of both individuals are centered on development and align closely with left-wing ideologies. The key issues they prominently champion also bear a strong resemblance to one another.