Raman wins the debate by making Bass answer for her absence
By Daniel Okafor · Reporting from New York ·
Nithya Raman forced Karen Bass onto the defensive over her absences and record in their final debate, leaving the mayor vulnerable as her own incumbency becomes her greatest liability.
The cost of being elsewhere
Nithya Raman won the debate by forcing Karen Bass to answer for the consequences of her absence. In a one-hour clash hosted by NBC4 and Telemundo 52, the City Councilmember framed the choice for Los Angeles as a decision between continued decline and a new kind of ambition. Raman argued that the city is at a "breaking point" and is no longer "a place of opportunity."
The debate turned on the Mayor’s record during the January 7, 2025, Palisades Fire. Bass said her trip to Ghana during the blaze was a "mistake." She said, "I am so profoundly sorry that I was not in my city, when my city needed me." Raman did not let the apology settle. She promised that if another emergency occurs, voters will not have to ask where the mayor is.
This tension follows the 2022 Los Angeles mayoral election. Bass defeated Rick Caruso in 2022. She now faces a challenger who uses charges of mismanagement to argue that the city is failing.
The exchange turns personal
The debate moved from the fires of the past to the streets of the present. According to ABC7 Los Angeles, Raman attacked the Inside Safe program, noting that homelessness is rising despite hundreds of millions of dollars in spending. She said Bass was "MIA" while storefronts close and tax money is wasted. "We cannot afford another four years of decline, of mismanagement, of excuses," Raman said.
Bass responded by attacking Raman’s temperament and ability to govern. Bass said Raman is "not ready for prime time" and described the Councilmember as having a "contemptuous" relationship with constituents. Bass also argued that Raman’s "extreme views" would destabilize the city as it prepares for the 2028 Olympics. "We are 640 days away from the greatest sporting event in U.S. history," Bass said, suggesting the city needs stability rather than disruption.
The exchange grew personal when Bass accused Raman of being unable to work with her colleagues on the City Council. Bass said she had to "twist their arms" to get them to serve on committees Raman chaired. Raman said she earned her leadership roles by pushing back against a failing system. She said the Mayor used "personal insults" because she cannot defend her record.
Who will decide on November 3?
The debate took place against a backdrop of shifting momentum. As NBC Los Angeles reported, Bass has never lost an election for public office and holds the endorsements of 13 City Council members, but the numbers tell a different story. A Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll shows Raman holds a double-digit lead.
The race remains volatile because voters are undecided. Raman, endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, runs on a platform of systemic change. Bass relies on her experience as Speaker of the California State Assembly and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Raman also had to defend her own recent conduct. Her campaign previously removed a video that referred to the LAPD and Mayor Bass as "fascist liars." Raman called it an "error" and said she would never imply the city or its leaders are fascist.
The voters will decide on November 3. Bass will attempt to consolidate her traditional base of older voters to overcome the current deficit. Raman will attempt to turn her polling lead into a mandate by convincing the undecided to reject the status quo.
The facts of the debate show Bass fighting a defensive war against her own tenure. Raman has tied the Mayor's decisions and policies to a sense of urban decay. If the voters believe the city is indeed at a breaking point, incumbency will serve as her greatest liability in 2026.