Nithya Raman is an American politician and urban planner born on July 28, 1981, in Kerala, India. She serves as the Los Angeles City Councilmember for District 4 and is currently running for Mayor of Los Angeles.
Her career has centered on housing, homelessness, and city government reform.
Who is Nithya Raman?
Nithya Raman is a Los Angeles City Councilmember representing District 4 since December 2020. She is also an urban planner, immigrant, and community organizer who built her political career around one issue above all others.
That issue is homelessness.
Before entering politics, Raman spent years working directly on housing and homelessness policy in Los Angeles. She founded a neighborhood coalition to fight the crisis long before she held any elected title.
Her path from grassroots organizer to City Hall has made her one of the most closely watched figures in Los Angeles politics.
In 2026, Raman took her biggest political step yet. She entered the race for Mayor of Los Angeles and advanced to the general election against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
Early Life of Nithya Raman
Raman was born in Kerala, India, to a Tamil family. At age six, she immigrated with her family to the United States, first settling in Louisiana before the family later moved to Massachusetts.
Growing up between two cultures shaped her early worldview. Her immigrant background later became a core part of how she talks about equity and opportunity in Los Angeles.
She became a naturalized United States citizen at age 22. That milestone came during her years of higher education, as she was building the academic foundation for her future career in urban planning.
Nithya Raman Age
Nithya Raman is 45 years old as of 2026, born on July 28, 1981. She remains an active sitting councilmember while campaigning for Mayor of Los Angeles.
Nithya Raman Ethnicity and Nationality
Nithya Raman is of Indian and Tamil heritage. She was born in Kerala, India, and immigrated to the United States as a child before later becoming a naturalized citizen.
Her identity as an immigrant and South Asian woman has been central to her public story. In 2020, she became the first South Asian and first Asian American woman ever elected to the Los Angeles City Council.
She has full belief in the Hindu religion.
Nithya Raman Education
Raman built a strong academic background in urban issues before entering public office. She earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University.
She later pursued graduate studies in urban planning. Raman completed a Master’s in Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After finishing her studies, she did not head straight into politics. Instead, she worked in India helping set up Transparent Chennai, a research program focused on improving city governance and sanitation.
Nithya Raman Career
Raman’s career moved through research, nonprofit work, and city government before reaching elected office. Each step built directly toward her focus on homelessness and housing.
Early Career
After her work in Chennai, Raman moved to Los Angeles. She took a position in the office of the City Administrative Officer, where she analyzed the city’s homelessness and housing spending firsthand.
That role gave her a close look at how city budgets failed to match the scale of the crisis. She later became Co-Chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council Homelessness Committee.
In 2017, Raman founded the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition. The group worked directly with unhoused residents while pushing the city toward more effective outreach.
She also served as executive director of Time’s Up Entertainment during this period. This nonprofit work sharpened both her organizing skills and her public profile before she ran for office.
Entering Politics
Raman declared her candidacy for Los Angeles City Council in 2019. She centered her campaign almost entirely on the city’s homelessness crisis.
Her team knocked on more than 70,000 doors before the primary election. As a result, her grassroots campaign gained momentum against a well-funded incumbent.
In November 2020, Raman defeated incumbent councilmember David Ryu. The Los Angeles Times described her victory as a political earthquake for the city’s establishment politics.
Current Role and Mayoral Campaign
Since taking office, Raman has chaired the council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on City Governance Reform.
Her committee work extends further. Raman sits on the Energy and Environment, Public Works, and Transportation committees, and she represents Los Angeles on the Governing Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
She was re-elected to a second council term in March 2024. From January 2025 to April 2026, she also served as Assistant President pro tempore of the Los Angeles City Council.
In 2026, Raman announced her campaign for Mayor of Los Angeles. She advanced through the primary and is now running in the general election against Mayor Karen Bass, with voters deciding the race on November 3, 2026.
Nithya Raman Husband and Children
Raman is married to Vali Chandrasekaran, a television and film producer. The couple lives together in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.
They are raising twins together. Their children are named Karna and Kaveri.
Raman generally keeps her family life private despite her high public profile. Even so, she has spoken about balancing motherhood with the demands of city government and, more recently, a citywide campaign.
Family remains a steady presence behind her public career.
Nithya Raman Net Worth
Nithya Raman’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed.
Her known income comes primarily from her public salary. City records show her total compensation as a councilmember reached over 100,000 dollars annually, including pay and benefits.
Before entering office, Raman earned income through nonprofit leadership and urban planning consulting work. Her financial profile reflects a career built in public service rather than private industry.
Nithya Raman Social Media
Raman maintains an active social media presence tied to both her council office and her mayoral campaign. Her campaign account on Instagram is run under the handle @nithyaforthecity.
She uses the platform to share updates on city policy and campaign events. Followers also see her posts about community initiatives across Los Angeles.
Her official council office maintains a separate presence through the Los Angeles City Council District 4 website. That site lists her committee work, public statements, and constituent services.
Voters and constituents can also follow her mayoral campaign through her official campaign website. Updates there track her platform on housing, homelessness, and city reform.
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The Bottom Line
Nithya Raman rose from a grassroots homelessness organizer to a sitting Los Angeles City Councilmember and now a mayoral candidate.
Her career reflects a consistent focus on housing policy, immigrant identity, and city government reform.
We hope you enjoyed reading about Nithya Raman. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
