Nithya Raman | The urban planner
Before entering U.S. politics, L.A.’s first South Asian Mayor-elect worked among the urban poor in Chennai, where she used data to expose gaps in slum resettlement and public facilities
- ✓Before entering U.S.
- ✓She graduated from Harvard University in 2003, and then got a master’s degree in urban planning from MIT.
- ✓politics, L.A.’s first South Asian Mayor-elect worked among the urban poor in Chennai, where she used data to expose gaps in slum resettlement and public facilities
After defeating Karen Bass, the incumbent Mayor of the second most populous city of the U.S., Nithya Raman wrote on X, “Los Angeles, I am deeply honored to be your next mayor.” A member of the city council since 2020, Ms.
Raman has a track record of civic activism, advocating for affordable and increased housing. Entering the electoral race at the very last minute, she is now L.A.’s the first South Asian Mayor-elect as well as the first candidate to defeat an incumbent Mayor of the city since 2005.
Born in Keralam, Ms. Raman spent a part of her early childhood between Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. Her father, Venkataraman, used to work for Keltron, and her mother, Sudha, was a former employee of the Indian Overseas Bank.
The family migrated to the U.S. when Ms. Raman was six. She graduated from Harvard University in 2003, and then got a master’s degree in urban planning from MIT. She became a U.S. citizen at 22.
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| Issuing Authority | The Hindu World & Diplomacy |
|---|---|
| Topic Category | WORLD |
| Jurisdiction | All India / National |
| Publication Date | 7 November 2026 |