Socialist civil war engulfs Los Angeles mayor race
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Mayoral candidate Nithya Raman speaking at Axios/Noticias Telemundo Visionarios on Sept. 30. Photo: Ben Camacho for Axios
A fight over Israel is fracturing the socialist movement just as it stands within reach of capturing the Los Angeles mayor's office.
Why it matters: The same socialist movement celebrating its ascendancy through New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is now debating whether to disown Nithya Raman before Los Angeles voters can even weigh in.
- National Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) leaders face demands to overturn the local chapter's endorsement of Raman over her position on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
- The Los Angeles chapter of DSA still enthusiastically endorses Raman, arguing Angelenos deserve a functioning city government.
- The mayoral race has been defined by homelessness, affordability and public safety.
By the numbers: Raman leads incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in recent polls ahead of the Nov. 3 election, though many voters remain undecided.
- Overall: A September Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll put Raman ahead 39%-28%, with 33% undecided. A more recent Manhattan Institute poll showed Raman leading 38%-32%, with 30% undecided.
- Among likely Latino voters: Raman led 45%-21%, with 34% undecided in the Berkeley poll.
- Among socialists: DSA's Los Angeles chapter endorsed Raman in a 937-484 vote, with 52 abstentions.
State of play: On Oct. 4, DSA's National Political Committee found that the chapter violated endorsement rules by failing to ask Raman about BDS, but stopped short of invalidating its support.
- National leaders have considered proposals to revoke the endorsement and bar the chapter from using resources to campaign for her, per Vanity Fair.
- A DSA faction has called for questioning Raman about her views on Palestine, with possible expulsion if national leaders find her positions incompatible with the group's principles.
Sticking point: The Democratic Socialists of America's published endorsement requirements say candidates must actively support BDS and avoid affiliations with the Israeli government or "Zionist lobbying groups."
- The DSA declined to comment.
Zoom in: Raman has broken with DSA before, including on Israel, policing and housing.
- DSA-LA censured her in 2024 for accepting an endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles but maintained its support.
- She voted to approve LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell over DSA objections and sought changes to L.A.'s mansion tax.
- At a September 29 Jewish voter forum, Raman defended calling Israel's military campaign in Gaza genocide but declined to put BDS on her municipal platform. Raman said she believes Israel has a right to exist.
What they're saying: Raman has stressed her independence from DSA.
- "My independence will always be paramount," she told the Jewish forum, according to AP.
- The next night, Raman described her approach to socialism to Axios and Noticias Telemundo as "sewer socialism" or "pothole politics," adding: "I just want government to work for the people."
Zoom out: Raman isn't the first prominent progressive to clash with DSA over Israel.
- National DSA leaders withdrew a conditional national endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in July 2024 over unmet demands involving Israel and BDS. Its New York City chapter continued supporting her.
- In March, Ocasio-Cortez pledged to oppose all U.S. funding for Israel, including defensive weapons. New York City's DSA chapter subsequently endorsed her reelection despite more than 500 opposing votes.
