Raman Surges Ahead of Establishment Mayor Bass by 11 Points in Latest LA Mayoral Poll
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A University of California Berkeley poll reveals councilmember and Democratic Socialist Nithya Raman leading establishment-backed Mayor Karen Bass by 11 points, as a third of voters remain undecided just six weeks before the election.
A new poll from the University of California Berkeley Institute of Government Studies and the Los Angeles Times, released Wednesday, shows a groundswell of support for councilmember Nithya Raman, a champion of progressive and socialist policies, who now leads establishment incumbent Mayor Karen Bass by 11 points among likely Los Angeles voters. Raman, proudly affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, has garnered 39% support, while Bass, who has often sided with corporate interests, trails at 28%. The survey, conducted online with 2,150 likely voters between Sept. 15 and 20, also reveals that about one-third of respondents are still undecided, signaling an electorate hungry for transformative change.
Poll director Mark DiCamillio commented, "It's extraordinarily unusual to see this many undecided voters at this point in the race," highlighting the deep dissatisfaction with politics as usual in Los Angeles.
The poll further notes that many undecided voters previously backed independent candidate Spencer Pratt, who was eliminated in the June primary. Of Pratt’s supporters, a striking 63% remain undecided, 22% now favor Bass, and 16% have shifted to Raman, indicating that the establishment has failed to inspire confidence among voters seeking real alternatives.
Raman celebrated the poll results on social media, emphasizing that the numbers reflect a growing movement for justice, equity, and real change in the city. Bass, in a defensive response, dismissed the poll, claiming that a single survey that failed to predict the primary “means very little with 40 days to go,” and insisted the race remains close, a refrain often heard from entrenched politicians.
The poll also reveals a generational divide, with Raman dominating among voters aged 18 to 39, while Bass leads among those 65 and older, underscoring the youth’s demand for a new direction. Favorability ratings show 63% of respondents view Bass unfavorably, compared to just 39% for Raman, highlighting the public’s rejection of the status quo. The poll’s margin of error is about three percentage points.