DSA factions clash over Nithya Raman's mayoral endorsement in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, councilmember Nithya Raman's bid for mayor is being challenged by two Marxist factions of the Democratic Socialists of America—Reform & Revolution and Bread & Roses. The groups have filed a resolution with the DSA National Political Committee that requires Raman to clarify her views on Israel and Palestine, threatening expulsion if she remains out of step with the party's anti-Zionist platform. A members-only meeting is slated for Oct. 25, ideally with Raman in attendance, to decide her fate.

The local DSA chapter had previously endorsed her campaign, but the vote was far from unanimous: 937 of 1,473 members supported her, while 484 opposed and 52 abstained. Critics note Raman's past acceptance of an endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles and her public break with DSA over the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, contrasting her with New York's Zohran Mamdani, who openly embraced the party's anti-Zionist stance. The dispute highlights a broader power struggle between national DSA activists and the Los Angeles chapter.