Nithya Raman

Nithya Raman declared a run for Los Angeles City Council in 2019, citing the issue of homelessness as being central to her decision to run.[6] Raman's candidacy was largely fueled by grassroots volunteers, who she claims knocked on more than 70,000 doors before the March primary.[7]

Raman's platform includes proposed reforms to Los Angeles' housing and homelessness policy, "a new approach to public safety," and a climate change plan that she claims will get Los Angeles to carbon neutrality by 2030.[8][9][10] She has signed the Participatory Budget Pledge, an initiative put forward by Black Lives Matter LA which expresses a commitment to "holding a participatory budgeting process each budget cycle I hold elected office."[11]

In the March 3, 2020 primary, Raman faced incumbent David Ryu and screenwriter Sarah Kate Levy.[12] Ryu received 32,298 votes (44.4%), Raman received 31,502 votes (40.8%), and Sarah Kate Levy received 10,860 votes (14.1%).[13] Because no candidate received over fifty percent of the vote, Raman and Ryu advanced to the runoff election, scheduled for November 3, 2020. In the runoff election, Raman received 52.87% of the vote while Ryu received 47.13%, securing Raman's victory.[14] She will serve a four-year term as City Councilmember before either running for re-election or retiring.