Mayoral Candidate Raman Vows to Replace LAPD Chief

Nithya Raman says she will fire current LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell if she wins the upcoming mayoral election.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration in navy, cream, and red, depicting a symbolic architectural facade representing city policing and administrative oversight. — Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has pledged to replace Police Chief Jim McDonnell, making department leadership a key campaign issue. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should a mayor have the authority to replace the police chief after winning an election?

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman has announced plans to replace current LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell if she is elected. This proposal is a central pillar of her platform as the race focuses heavily on policing and public safety.

Why it matters

The pledge highlights the central role of policing and accountability in the Los Angeles mayoral campaign. Voters are being asked to weigh in on the leadership direction of the department during a period of high scrutiny over public safety management.

Jim McDonnell, who previously served as Long Beach police chief and Los Angeles County sheriff, was appointed to lead the LAPD by Mayor Karen Bass in 2024. His tenure remains the subject of the ongoing mayoral campaign discourse.

The players

Nithya Raman

She is a candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles who has made police department leadership a primary focus of her campaign.

Jim McDonnell

He is the current LAPD chief who previously served as the Los Angeles County sheriff and the police chief of Long Beach.

Karen Bass

She is the current Mayor of Los Angeles who appointed the current police chief to his position in 2024.

The details

Raman has explicitly stated that removing the incumbent police chief is a primary campaign goal. Her stance underscores the political intensity surrounding the future of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Mayor Karen Bass appointed Jim McDonnell as LAPD chief in 2024.
Nithya Raman reasserted her plan to fire the chief in October 2026.

Legal Context

This campaign pledge tests the boundaries of mayoral authority within the Los Angeles City Charter provisions for department head management. It signals a move toward exercising executive power to reshape municipal law enforcement leadership.

The proposal directly impacts the local community by framing the future of police department leadership as a primary issue for voters. Residents can expect the mayoral race to remain heavily focused on policing and public accountability metrics throughout the election.

The takeaway

Voters in Los Angeles should examine candidate platforms regarding executive power over municipal agencies to understand the potential impact on city governance. The upcoming election serves as a critical junction for determining the long-term leadership of the local police force.