LA Mayoral Candidate Nithya Raman Under Pressure Over Stance on Israel

Nithya Raman, a leading candidate for Los Angeles mayor, is facing increasing pressure from the national leadership of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) regarding her stance on Israel. The national DSA is demanding that Raman, a city councilwoman, explicitly endorse the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Failure to do so could result in the withdrawal of the DSA's endorsement and potentially her expulsion from the organization.

Raman has not fully committed to the BDS campaign, stating only that it is a legitimate form of peaceful protest, which the national DSA leadership deems insufficient. The organization's National Political Committee passed resolutions on Monday, giving Raman an opportunity to clarify her position at an event on Saturday. If she does not comply, her candidacy support could be revoked. By January 1, she must declare support for BDS and oppose arms shipments to Israel via Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), or face disciplinary action that could lead to expulsion.

The local DSA chapter in Los Angeles had endorsed Raman with a significant majority on September 2, with 937 votes in favor and 484 against. The local leadership intends to uphold this decision and opposes the national organization's attempts to attach new conditions to the endorsement. Leslie Chang, a co-chair of the California local chapter, stated that the members' democratic decision would be respected, and they would continue to campaign for Raman and other candidates on their list.

The national leadership also demands that Raman refuse cooperation with groups identified as "Zionist lobby groups" and oppose legislation perceived to disadvantage Palestinians or facilitate direct financial aid to Israel and Israeli settler organizations, specifically mentioning the Jewish National Fund. Furthermore, they insist she work to prevent arms shipments through LAX, despite the limited legal capacity of a city government to interfere with international air traffic and arms transport.

Raman, 45, has been a member of the Los Angeles City Council since 2020. Her position on Israel has evolved; in 2020, she stated she did not support BDS, warning of the dangers of close association with the movement given rising hate crimes. After the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Raman initially criticized her organization's statement for lacking sufficient empathy for victims. Tensions escalated when she accepted support from a pro-Israel Democratic group, earning a rebuke from the local DSA. Her rhetoric has since shifted, with Raman describing Israel's actions as "genocide" in a conversation with streamer Hasan Piker and at an event with Jewish voters in late September, an assessment the local Jewish Federation deemed a crossing of a red line.