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Little known a year ago, Nithya Raman is a Democratic Socialist drawing comparisons with New York’s Zohran Mamdani. She has mounted a strong challenge to the incumbent, Karen Bass.

A fight over Israel is fracturing the socialist movement just as it stands within reach of capturing the Los Angeles mayor's office . Why it matters: The same socialist movement celebrating its ascendancy through New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is now debating whether to disown Nithya Raman before Los Angeles voters can even weigh in. National Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) leaders face demands to overturn the local chapter's endorsement of Raman over her position on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The Los Angeles chapter of DSA still enthusiastically endorses Raman , arguing Angelenos deserve a functioning city government. The mayoral race has been defined by homelessness, affordability and public safety. By the numbers: Raman leads incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in recent polls ahead of the Nov. 3 election, though many voters remain undecided. Overall : A September Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll put Raman ahead 39%-28%, with 33% undecided. A more recent Manhattan Institute poll showed Raman leading 38%-32%, with 30% undecided. Among likely Latino voters: Raman led 45%-21%, with 34% undecided in the Berkeley poll. Among socialists: DSA's Los Angeles chapter endorsed Raman in a 937-484 vote, with 52 abstentions. State of play: On Oct. 4, DSA's National Political Committee found that the chapter violated endorsement rules by failing to ask Raman about BDS, but stopped short of invalidating its support. National leaders have considered proposals to revoke the endorsement and bar the chapter from using resources to campaign for her, per Vanity Fair . A DSA faction has called for questioning Raman about her views on Palestine, with possible expulsion if national leaders find her positions incompatible with the group's principles. Sticking point: The Democratic Socialists of America's published endorsement requirements say candidates must actively support BDS and avoid affiliations with the Israeli government or "Zionist lobbying groups." The DSA declined to comment. Zoom in: Raman has broken with DSA before, including on Israel, policing and housing. DSA-LA censured her in 2024 for accepting an endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles but maintained its support. She voted to approve LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell over DSA objections and sought changes to L.A.'s mansion tax . At a September 29 Jewish voter forum , Raman defended calling Israel's military campaign in Gaza genocide but declined to put BDS on her municipal platform. Raman said she believes Israel has a right to exist. What they're saying: Raman has stressed her independence from DSA. "My independence will always be paramount," she told the Jewish forum, according to AP . The next night, Raman described her approach to socialism to Axios and Noticias Telemundo as "sewer socialism" or "pothole politics," adding: "I just want government to work for the people." Zoom out: Raman isn't the first prominent progressive to clash with DSA over Israel. National DSA leaders withdrew a conditional national endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in July 2024 over unmet demands involving Israel and BDS. Its New York City chapter continued supporting her. In March, Ocasio-Cortez pledged to oppose all U.S. funding for Israel, including defensive weapons. New York City's DSA chapter subsequently endorsed her reelection despite more than 500 opposing votes.

A new poll shows LA Mayor Karen Bass trailing challenger Nithya Raman by 8 points, with 71.7% of voters disapproving of Bass's job performance.