Story perspectives

Poll Shows Nithya Raman Leading Karen Bass by 11

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 8:03 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Raman leads by 11

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and challenger City Councilmember Nithya Raman will debate on Oct 13, 2026, in a televised forum on NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
Mail-in ballots will begin mailing to all registered Los Angeles voters on Oct 1, 2026.
A UC Berkeley poll shows Raman leading Bass by 11 points, with one-third of voters undecided.
Bass noted Police Department has two fewer officers per 1,000 residents than New York and Chicago.

Right

Genocide Claim Sparks Unrest

Mayor Karen Bass and challenger City Councilmember Nithya Raman will debate on Oct. 13, 2026, in a forum hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
Raman’s description of Israel’s Gaza campaign as “genocide” provoked uneasy reaction among roughly 1,000 attendees at the Jewish-focused forum.
An IGS/Los Angeles Times poll showed Raman leading Bass 39% to 28%, with 33% undecided.
Both campaigns raised $2.5 million and LAPD recorded 46 anti-Jewish hate crimes Jan.–May 2026, up 12%.

History

Historical Context

The April 1992 Los Angeles riots erupted after a jury acquitted four officers in the Rodney King beating, killing 55 people, injuring 2,383 and causing over $1 billion in damage. Chief Daryl Gates’ resignation and federal oversight reshaped LAPD staffing. The 2026 mayoral race between incumbent Karen Bass and challenger Nithya Raman revives those debates over police numbers and community safety.

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Raman leads by 11

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and challenger City Councilmember Nithya Raman will debate on Oct 13, 2026, in a televised forum on NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
Mail-in ballots will begin mailing to all registered Los Angeles voters on Oct 1, 2026.
A UC Berkeley poll shows Raman leading Bass by 11 points, with one-third of voters undecided.
Bass noted Police Department has two fewer officers per 1,000 residents than New York and Chicago.

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