Los Angeles’ progressive flank at City Hall just sent a loud message in the mayor’s race, and it was not what Nithya Raman was hoping to hear.
Three members of the City Council’s progressive bloc have come out for Mayor Karen Bass in the June 2 primary, pointedly passing over their fellow progressive Raman. The move, from Eunisses Hernandez, Ysabel Jurado, and Hugo Soto‑Martínez, sharpens an already visible split on the left as the city heads into a crowded contest.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Hernandez praised Bass for her record during high-pressure moments, saying, "When immigrant communities across our city came under attack, Karen Bass stood up and spoke out. She showed real leadership and conviction." Soto‑Martínez, who had already backed Bass earlier this year, said he was surprised by Raman’s late entry into the race and added, "Even when we disagree, I’ve never doubted Mayor Bass and her long‑standing commitment to the community."
While those endorsements give Bass a clear boost with a certain slice of progressive voters, not every left‑leaning group is following suit. The Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America chose not to issue a formal mayoral endorsement, opting instead to "recommend" Raman in its voter guide and pour more of its energy into other local races. In a statement on its website, DSA‑LA said it would only revisit a full mayoral endorsement if members successfully petition for it and then vote to reopen the process.
Poll Math Tightens The Race
The latest Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey has Bass out in front with roughly 30% support, while Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman are clustered in the low‑20s. That keeps Bass below the 50% mark she would need to avoid a November runoff. The poll, published by Emerson College Polling, also shows the share of undecided voters dropping sharply since March, raising the stakes for late endorsements and turnout operations in the final stretch before June 2.
Why It Matters Locally
Strategists say the council endorsements are a calculated effort to curb Raman’s pull with progressive voters and reinforce Bass’s standing with residents who prioritize both immigrant protections and public‑safety gains. Some analysts argue the moves speak as much to working relationships inside City Hall as they do to ideology. If Bass and her allies manage to consolidate enough left‑leaning voters, they improve their odds of keeping Raman out of a second‑place finish that would send her into a November runoff against Pratt.
