Socialist civil war engulfs Los Angeles mayor race
Summary
The Democratic Socialists of America is divided over its Los Angeles chapter’s endorsement of mayoral candidate Nithya Raman, largely because she has not endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. National leaders found the local chapter violated endorsement rules but have not withdrawn its support, while polls cited in the article show Raman leading incumbent Karen Bass before the Nov. 3 election.Key Facts
- The Los Angeles DSA chapter endorsed Raman by a vote of 937 to 484, with 52 abstentions.
- On Oct. 4, the DSA National Political Committee found the chapter violated endorsement rules by not asking Raman about BDS, but it did not invalidate the endorsement.
- DSA endorsement rules say candidates must actively support BDS and avoid affiliations with the Israeli government or Zionist lobbying groups.
- Vanity Fair reported that national DSA leaders have considered revoking Raman’s endorsement and barring the local chapter from using resources to campaign for her.
- A September Berkeley IGS/Los Angeles Times poll showed Raman leading Bass 39% to 28%, with 33% undecided; a more recent Manhattan Institute poll showed Raman ahead 38% to 32%, with 30% undecided.
- At a Jewish voter forum, Raman defended describing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide but declined to support BDS as part of her municipal platform; she said Israel has a right to exist.
- The Los Angeles chapter censured Raman in 2024 for accepting an endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles, but continued to back her.
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