{"id":2600055,"date":"2026-05-07T17:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T21:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/la-mayor-hopeful-nithya-raman-struggles-under-spencer-pratt-onslaught\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T17:23:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T21:23:35","slug":"la-mayor-hopeful-nithya-raman-struggles-under-spencer-pratt-onslaught","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/la-mayor-hopeful-nithya-raman-struggles-under-spencer-pratt-onslaught\/","title":{"rendered":"LA mayor hopeful Nithya Raman struggles under Spencer Pratt onslaught"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fla-mayor-hopeful-nithya-raman-struggles-under-spencer-pratt-onslaught%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2600055&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Nithya Raman entered the Los Angeles mayoral debate needing a breakthrough, but instead left looking rattled and struggled to capitalize in a crowded \u201cjungle primary\u201d where 40% of voters are still undecided. The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs poll shows Mayor Karen Bass leading among chosen candidates at 25%, with Spencer Pratt at 11% and Raman at 9%, despite 14 people on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>During the debate, Raman repeatedly fumbled answers-appearing flustered, running past time limits, and giving unfocused responses to straightforward questions, including whether noncitizens should be allowed to vote in city elections.At one point, she suggested Bass and Pratt were teaming up to push her out of the race; the audience laughed and Pratt sharply rebuffed her, while also attacking her credibility and claiming she\u2019d struggle to beat an incumbent supported by unions.<\/p>\n<p>the article also outlines Raman\u2019s rapid rise, her background in urban planning, and her work founding a homeless outreach coalition before becoming the first South Asian woman elected to the Los Angeles City council. Her <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >policy focus includes tenant protections<\/a>, housing initiatives, and efforts to address homelessness and public safety-contrasted with Pratt\u2019s sharper attacks, including tying Raman to drug use among homeless people.<\/p>\n<p>Bass and Raman clashed on policing and funding: Bass argued for maintaining or rebuilding staffing and defended salary hikes for officers to reduce attrition, while Raman criticized the raises and urged keeping staffing at current levels. The piece notes that Bass and Raman had been political allies for years before Raman\u2019s mayoral bid disrupted their relationship.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nithyaforthecity.com\/about-nithya\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nithyaforthecity.com\/about-nithya\">Nithya Raman<\/a> entered Wednesday night\u2019s Los Angeles <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4558427\/spencer-pratt-karen-bass-la-mayor-debate\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4558427\/spencer-pratt-karen-bass-la-mayor-debate\/\">mayoral debate<\/a> needing a breakout moment. Instead, she left the stage looking rattled and unable to capitalize on an opening in a race that remains remarkably fluid.<\/p>\n<p>Raman, who represents the city\u2019s 4th Council District, is competing in a crowded primary that has recently gotten a lot noisier thanks to reality television personality <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4550120\/spencer-pratt-endorsements-cash-los-angeles-mayor\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4550120\">Spencer Pratt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4555270\/california-elections-in-play-for-republicans-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>California elections \u2018in play\u2019 for Republicans: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4554951\/california-governor-race-back-to-back-debates-mail-in-voting\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>California gubernatorial hopefuls contend with back-to-back debates with finish line in sight<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4553238\/thune-scott-barr-kentucky-senate-endorsement-trump\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thune and Scott follow Trump\u2019s lead with endorsement of Andy Barr<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/latest-poll-majority-of-americans-want-republican-party-to-control-the-senate-sean-hannity\/\" title=\"LATEST POLL: Majority of Americans Want Republican Party to Control the Senate | Sean Hannity\">latest poll<\/a> from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/luskin.ucla.edu\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs<\/a> found that 40% of voters remain undecided. Among those who have chosen a candidate, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass leads with 25%, followed by Pratt at 11%, and Raman at 9%, underscoring just how unsettled the race remains. There are 14 candidates on the ballot, although only five are viewed as legitimate contenders heading into the June 2 primary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>With so many voters still undecided and Bass facing mounting criticism over homelessness, public safety, and the city\u2019s wildfire response, the debate carried outsize significance. Raman needed to convince centrist and antiestablishment voters that she represented a tougher, more pragmatic alternative to the mayor while still appealing to liberals dissatisfied with Bass\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4550120\/spencer-pratt-endorsements-cash-los-angeles-mayor\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4550120\/spencer-pratt-endorsements-cash-los-angeles-mayor\/\"><strong>REALITY STAR SPENCER PRATT RACKS UP CASH, ENDORSEMENTS IN UPSTART LOS ANGELES MAYOR BID<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Los Angeles, CA \u2013 MAY 06, 2026: Spencer Pratt, from left, Karen Bass, and Nithya Raman take part in the Los Angeles Mayoral debate at Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jason Armond \/ Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Instead, she repeatedly stumbled through answers that seemed tailor-made for sharper responses. At several points, she appeared flustered, blowing past time limits and turning straightforward questions into long explanations. One especially awkward exchange came when she was asked whether noncitizens should be allowed to vote in city elections, a question that called for a yes-or-no answer but elicited an extended, unfocused reply.<\/p>\n<p>Her most uncomfortable moment came when she suggested Bass and Pratt were teaming up to push her out of the primary. The accusation prompted laughter from the audience rather than sympathy and a stinging rebuke from Pratt, one of many throughout the night.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst off, Mayor Bass and I are definitely not working together,\u201d he said. \u201cI blame this person [Bass] for burning my house and my parents\u2019 house and my town and my neighbors down. I am not working with Mayor Bass. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cSecond off, if I wanna run against anybody, it would be the council member who is terrible. Mayor Bass has at least been a mayor for almost four years and has, as she talked about earlier, the unions, all the unions endorse Mayor Bass. Do you think it\u2019s easier to run against the incumbent mayor with all the unions or a random city council member who\u2019s been a failure for 6 years? I would much rather run against Councilwoman Raman.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Spencer Pratt just DESTROYED Nithya Raman who was trying to convince LA that he and Karen Bass are teaming up against her because they have a better chance against each other.<\/p>\n<p>Pratt: &#8220;First off, Mayor Bass and I are definitely not working together. I blame this person for\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/soaac9iZPN\">pic.twitter.com\/soaac9iZPN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Red Line News (@RedLineNewsUSA) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RedLineNewsUSA\/status\/2052186695639175236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Under California\u2019s \u201cjungle primary\u201d system, all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election. In a race where no candidate appears close to consolidating support, Raman had an opportunity to present herself as the clear alternative to Bass. Instead, she often came across as defensive and visibly irritated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a great performance, but there\u2019s still some time left before the primary,\u201d California-based political analyst Robert Calvins told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cNot much, but a little.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Raman\u2019s political rise in Los Angeles has been unusually rapid. Born in India and raised in the United States, Raman studied urban planning, earning a bachelor\u2019s degree from\u00a0Harvard University\u00a0and a graduate degree from\u00a0Massachusetts Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n<p>Before entering politics, she founded SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition, a nonprofit organization focused on outreach to the homeless. In 2020, she became the first South Asian woman elected to the Los Angeles City Council after mounting a grassroots campaign powered by 2,000 volunteers who knocked on more than 80,000 doors to unseat a sitting councilmember, something that had not happened in nearly two decades. She was also part of the first major wave of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-anti-semitism-bill-is-this-generations-patriot-act-sounds-great-horrific-in-practice\/\" title=\"New Anti-Semitism Bill: Modern Patriot Act or Nightmare in Action?\">progressive candidates elected<\/a> to the council, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America.<\/p>\n<p>Representing the tony Hollywood Hills district, Raman has championed tenant protections and housing initiatives, including efforts to limit evictions, cap rent increases on older apartments, establish a right-to-counsel program for tenants, and expand anti-displacement measures. She has also pushed for increased housing construction and policies to revive the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n<p>In one exchange during the debate, Pratt made sure to tie Raman to drug use among the homeless population.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will go below the Harbor Freeway tomorrow with her, and we can find some of those people she\u2019s going to offer treatment for \u2026 she\u2019s going to get stabbed in the neck. These people do not want a bed. They want fentanyl or supermeth,\u201d Pratt charged.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Spencer Pratt dares Nithya Raman to try to go offer beds to the homeless: &#8220;She&#8217;d get kiIIed&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Make this man the next mayor of LA <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NANT4wqJkm\">pic.twitter.com\/NANT4wqJkm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EndWokeness\/status\/2052189337261900228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Her husband,\u00a0Vali Chandrasekaran, is a television writer and producer known for his work on <em>Modern Family<\/em> and <em>30 Rock<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>Pratt hit close to home when he accused Raman and Bass of \u201cfailing Hollywood\u201d by not securing enough uncapped or postproduction tax credits and other protections.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCouncilman Raman will tell you, \u2018My husband\u2019s a producer. Blah, blah, blah,&#8217;\u201d Pratt said. \u201cThe reality is, she\u2019s been in power for five years now. All of a sudden, she has these tweets and these posts. She\u2019s doing sub stacks. Both of these people have been the reason why there\u2019s no more Hollywood.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Spencer Pratt reveals Hollywood producers are now forced to hire gang members for security on their sets due to the failed policies of Mayor Bass and Councilwoman Raman.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/spencerpratt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@spencerpratt<\/a> &#8220;These two politicians have failed Hollywood times a thousand.&#8221; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jlf23cU94p\">pic.twitter.com\/jlf23cU94p<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 jay plemons (@jayplemons) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jayplemons\/status\/2052210117903569218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Bass also sought to draw a sharp contrast with Raman over policing and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/swipe-left-dem-congressional-candidate-apologizes-after-fudging-age-on-tinder-bumble\/\" title=\"\u2018Swipe ...\u2019: Dem Congressional ... Apologizes After Fudging Age On Tinder, Bumble\">public safety funding<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Soon after taking office, Bass pushed to rebuild the Los Angeles Police Department to 9,500 officers, but staffing instead dropped to fewer than 8,700 sworn personnel. Her administration approved a costly package of salary hikes aimed at keeping officers from leaving.<\/p>\n<p>Raman argued the city should maintain the department at its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elon-musk-stumps-bbc-reporter-you-just-lied\/\" title=\"Elon Musk Stumps BBC Reporter: &#039;You Just Lied&#039;\">current staffing levels<\/a> and criticized the raises as financially irresponsible.<\/p>\n<p>Bass countered that the pay increases were necessary to stem the loss of officers and accused Raman of standing in the way of recruitment efforts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have not had the cooperation from the City Council, including, unfortunately, my colleague next to me, who has voted repeatedly against hiring officers,\u201d Bass said. \u201cWe cannot shrink our department.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bass and Raman were considered political allies for years, often appearing on the same side of major city fights. Bass publicly supported Raman during her bruising 2024 council reelection race, and Raman had backed Bass in her showdown with billionaire developer Rick Caruso two years earlier. That relationship unraveled after Raman entered the mayor\u2019s contest in February.<\/p>\n<p>Raman has described her decision to run for mayor as both \u201cunexpected\u201d and \u201cnecessary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOver the past few years, I\u2019ve had a growing sense that our city is falling behind,\u201d she said. \u201cThat feeling sharpened after last January\u2019s fires, the city\u2019s slow response, and the lack of accountability at City Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She has argued that Los Angeles\u2019s problems extend well beyond wildfire recovery.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4558427\/spencer-pratt-karen-bass-la-mayor-debate\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4558427\">SPENCER PRATT ROASTS BASS FOR \u2018BURNING MY HOUSE\u2019 AT LA MAYOR DEBATE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Raman, who had chaired the council\u2019s housing and homelessness committee since, supported Bass\u2019s emergency declaration on homelessness and approved three years of funding for the mayor\u2019s Inside Safe initiative. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHousing costs keep rising while housing production \u2014 the only real way to reduce costs \u2014 has stalled,\u201d she said. \u201cUnsheltered homelessness has declined in some areas, but not in proportion to the enormous public spending. Systems remain inefficient and unaccountable, eroding public trust.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She has also pointed to lingering public safety concerns, arguing that even as violent crime declines, slow 911 response times have left many residents feeling unsafe.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nithya Raman faltered in Wednesday\u2019s LA mayoral debate, missing a chance in a still-shifting race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2600058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP22160046944940.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[35865,44588,79287,5894,70393],"class_list":["post-2600055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-election-campaign","tag-mayoral-race","tag-nithya-raman","tag-politics","tag-spencer-pratt"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP22160046944940.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2600055"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2600064,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600055\/revisions\/2600064"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2600058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2600055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2600055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2600055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}