DSA Keeps Raman’s Mayoral Endorsement by One Vote

On November 2, the Democratic Socialists of America’s National Political Committee voted 14–13 to keep its endorsement of Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, narrowly rejecting a move to withdraw it ahead of the November 3 mayoral election. Raman is challenging incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.

The dispute centered on Raman’s position on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which uses economic pressure against Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. A DSA rule adopted in 2025 requires local chapters to ask candidates about their views on BDS before issuing an endorsement. The Los Angeles chapter did not include that question in its questionnaire for Raman.

The national committee had reviewed whether the local chapter’s omission violated the rule. The chapter endorsed Raman in September, and its members and leaders opposed national intervention. DSA-LA co-chair Leslie Chang said the group was relieved the committee respected its members’ decision.

Raman’s views have shifted. In 2020, she stated that she did not personally back BDS and opposed government agencies joining boycotts of Israel. She later wrote that solidarity with Gaza could include BDS, alongside nonviolent protest, legislative action and diplomatic pressure. The dispute also included demands that she oppose weapons shipments to Israel through Los Angeles International Airport.

Raman described the DSA dispute as internal political theater and said the matter did not trouble Los Angeles voters. The national committee’s vote preserves the endorsement through the election, though the second report said she could still face expulsion from the organization afterward.

DSA Members’ Choice Prevails in Narrow Raman Endorsement Vote

The Democratic Socialists of America’s national committee narrowly upheld its Los Angeles chapter’s endorsement of Nithya Raman on November 2, voting 14–13 against revoking it before the November 3 mayoral election. The outcome honors the local members who backed Raman and have spent weeks canvassing for her.

The challenge arose because the Los Angeles chapter’s candidate questionnaire did not ask Raman about the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, as a DSA rule adopted in 2025 requires. National committee members were reviewing whether that omission breached the rule. The chapter had endorsed Raman in September, and its leaders opposed the national body stepping into the decision.

The dispute reflects disagreement over how to express solidarity with Palestinians and pressure Israel. Raman, who stated in 2020 that she did not personally support BDS, later wrote that BDS could be part of nonviolent protest, legislative action and diplomatic pressure in support of Gaza. She has also faced demands to oppose weapons shipments to Israel through LAX.

The close vote keeps the endorsement in place as Raman challenges incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Raman dismissed the internal fight as political theater, while DSA-LA co-chair Leslie Chang said the chapter was relieved the national committee respected its members’ choice. The endorsement survived, although she could still face expulsion from DSA after the election.

Socialist Party Keeps Raman’s Endorsement Despite Israel Dispute

The Democratic Socialists of America narrowly kept its endorsement of Nithya Raman on November 2, as a 14–13 vote rejected an effort to withdraw backing for the Los Angeles mayoral candidate. The decision leaves the organization’s support in place as Raman faces incumbent Karen Bass in the November 3 election.

The dispute was rooted in the DSA’s own candidate-screening rule. Adopted in 2025, it requires local chapters to ask candidates about their stance on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. DSA’s Los Angeles chapter omitted the question from Raman’s questionnaire, prompting national committee members to examine whether the endorsement process violated the rule.

Raman’s position has changed: in 2020 she stated she did not personally support BDS and opposed government agencies joining boycotts of Israel. She later described BDS as one possible form of pressure in support of Gaza, alongside protest, legislation and diplomacy. The conflict also involved demands that she oppose weapons shipments to Israel through LAX.

Despite the rule dispute, the local chapter’s members had endorsed Raman in September, and its leaders resisted the national committee’s intervention. The 14–13 result keeps the endorsement intact just before voters go to the polls. Raman called the infighting internal political theater; she could still face expulsion from DSA after the election.