Nithya Raman Holds Narrow Lead Over Karen Bass in Los Angeles Mayoral Count as Xavier Becerra Wins Governorship

Nithya Raman Maintains Slim Advantage in Highly Contested Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff

LOS ANGELES, California — As the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk continued counting hundreds of thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, progressive City Councilmember Nithya Raman maintained a razor-thin advantage over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. The fiercely contested runoff captured national attention as a philosophical debate over urban governance, tenant protections, municipal public bank creation, and the speed of permanent supportive housing construction across Los Angeles County.

County election officials announced that daily updated tabulation releases will proceed throughout the week, emphasizing that statutory signature verification procedures ensure complete accuracy in resolving the ultra-tight contest.

Xavier Becerra Elected California’s First Latino Governor in Landmark Statewide Victory

In broader state election results, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra won election as Governor of California, becoming the first Latino governor in the state's modern history. Meanwhile in local congressional races, progressive activist Angela Gonzales-Torres achieved an upset victory in California’s 34th Congressional District, defeating incumbent U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez in an election centered on immigration reform and universal healthcare advocacy.

Governor-elect Becerra pledged to prioritize wildfire prevention infrastructure, climate adaptation investments, and aggressive clean energy job creation across Southern California.

22nd Annual Asian Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Commences in Los Angeles

In cultural news, opening receptions for the 22nd Annual Asian Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony commenced in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, celebrating prominent Asian and Pacific Islander leaders in technology, cinema, healthcare, and humanitarian diplomacy. The philanthropic gala raised funds for national trauma advocacy programs and university collegiate scholarships, highlighting the deep cultural heritage and community leadership of Southern California.