Celebrations have begun in Kerala, as Nithya Raman prepares to take charge as the mayor of Los Angeles. The 45-year-old Indian-origin politician defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the November 2026 election, emerging as the city's mayor-elect.

For her relatives in Kerala, the victory is deeply personal. The family WhatsApp group, 'Vanajappa Family', was flooded with congratulatory messages as members followed the election results. They remembered Nithya as the little girl who once played on Ramaswamy Kovil Road in Thiruvananthapuram.

Her father, Venkitaraman, worked with Keltron, while her mother, Sudha, was employed with Indian Overseas Bank. The family lived in Thiruvananthapuram before moving to Thrissur, her mother's hometown, when her father went to the United States for higher studies. Nithya was born in Thrissur and attended Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan before the family settled in Boston when she was six.

Despite moving abroad, the family continued visiting India to stay connected with their roots.

From Harvard and MIT to Community Action

Nithya's academic journey took her to two of the world's leading institutions. She graduated in Social Studies from Harvard University in 2003 and earned a postgraduate degree in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2008.

However, her interest in solving everyday urban problems brought her back to India after graduation. At just 23, she founded Transparent Chennai, an organisation that worked to address civic challenges, including sanitation and access to basic services.

In 2013, she moved to Los Angeles, where she became involved in neighbourhood efforts to tackle homelessness. Her work with local communities gradually brought her into the city's political landscape.

A Political Journey That Makes History

Raman entered electoral politics in 2020 and won a seat on the Los Angeles City Council, defeating a long-serving incumbent. Six years later, she took on Mayor Karen Bass in a closely watched mayoral contest.

Her campaign focused on tackling homelessness, improving housing affordability and strengthening basic city services. The devastating Los Angeles fires of 2025 and the city's response also became major issues during the campaign.

Her victory makes her the first challenger to defeat a sitting Los Angeles mayor in more than two decades. She is set to become the city's next mayor following her election victory and the incumbent's concession.

A Love for Culture and Dance

Beyond politics, Nithya has a deep interest in Indian classical dance. During her time in India, she trained in Bharatanatyam under acclaimed dancer Leela Samson and continued pursuing the art after returning to the US. Married to Vali Chandrasekaran, Nithya has two children. Her relatives in Kerala are now eagerly looking forward to celebrating her achievement with her during her next visit.

From the neighbourhoods of Kerala to the leadership of one of America's largest cities, Nithya Raman's journey is a remarkable story of roots, purpose and public service.