Nithya Raman Defended Genocide Remarks at Mayoral Forum
The Los Angeles mayoral candidate addressed her use of the term during a conversation at the Skirball Cultural Center.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Judaism
Live Poll
Should candidates for local office use charged terminology when discussing international geopolitical conflicts?
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman defended her use of the term genocide regarding Israel's actions in Gaza during the 2026 Jewish Los Angeles Mayoral Forum. She told attendees her choice of words followed reports and images of hospital targeting and child deaths.
Why it matters
The remarks carry significant political weight as both Raman and Mayor Karen Bass compete for leadership in a city currently experiencing a 12% rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes compared to the previous year.
A recent Berkeley IGS/Los Angeles Times poll shows Raman leading the race with 39% support compared to 28% for Karen Bass. Both mayoral campaigns have raised approximately $2.5 million each for the current cycle.
The players
Nithya Raman
She is a Los Angeles City Councilwoman and a candidate for mayor who received 29% of the vote in the June 2026 primary election.
Karen Bass
She is the current Mayor of Los Angeles who received 34% of the vote in the June 2026 primary election.
Alex Cohen
She is a Spectrum News anchor who moderated the conversation with Nithya Raman at the mayoral forum.
The details
Raman participated in a discussion with Spectrum News anchor Alex Cohen at the Skirball Cultural Center before an audience of approximately 1,000 people. She answered questions regarding her political rhetoric from both the anchor and selected audience members.
Timeline
Between January 1, 2026, and May 31, 2026, the LAPD recorded 46 anti-Jewish hate crimes.
The primary election for Los Angeles mayor was held on June 2, 2026.
Nithya Raman defended her genocide remarks on September 29, 2026.
The Los Angeles mayoral runoff election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Culture Shift
The intense scrutiny over candidate rhetoric reflects a broader shift in local politics where national and international foreign policy stances now heavily influence municipal races. This atmosphere follows the clear divide established during the June 2, 2026, Los Angeles mayoral primary election.
Voters must now reconcile these starkly different campaign positions before casting their ballots in the November runoff. The heightened tensions in the city may also influence how residents engage with upcoming civic events and local political discourse.
The takeaway
The mayoral race has become a central arena for debating international conflicts within the local community. Voters are encouraged to review the full policy platforms of both candidates ahead of the November runoff.
What happens next
The mayoral runoff election between Nithya Raman and Karen Bass is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more background on the community, see Judaism.
Live Poll
Should candidates for local office use charged terminology when discussing international geopolitical conflicts?
