A widening ideological fracture over Israel is threatening the progressive movement in Southern California just as it stands within striking distance of capturing the Los Angeles mayor’s office. National leaders of the Democratic Socialists of America are facing intense pressure to overturn their local chapter’s endorsement of candidate Nithya Raman over her refusal to fully align with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.
The internal clash mirrors similar national tensions within the progressive coalition, testing the boundaries of ideological purity as local figures seek broader electoral appeal. While national organizers debate whether to strip the endorsement, the Los Angeles chapter of the DSA continues to back Raman, arguing that the primary focus of the municipal election must remain on local governance, including homelessness, affordability, and public safety.
Recent polling indicates a competitive contest ahead of the November 3 election, with Raman holding an advantage over incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, though a significant share of the electorate remains undecided. A September poll conducted by the Berkeley IGS and the Los Angeles Times showed Raman leading Bass 39% to 28%, with 33% of voters undecided. A subsequent poll from the Manhattan Institute captured a similar trajectory, placing Raman ahead 38% to 32% with 30% undecided. Among likely Latino voters, the Berkeley survey found Raman leading significantly with 45% support compared to 21% for Bass, alongside 34% undecided.
Within the local party apparatus, the endorsement was secured through a membership vote of 937 to 484, with 52 abstentions. However, national oversight mechanisms quickly flagged procedural friction. On October 4, the DSA’s National Political Committee determined that the local chapter had violated organizational endorsement rules by failing to formally query Raman regarding her position on BDS before issuing its support. While national leaders stopped short of completely invalidating the endorsement, discussions have included proposals to revoke official backing and bar the chapter from deploying national resources to campaign on her behalf.
Factions within the national organization have pushed for direct questioning of Raman regarding Palestine, warning that an incompatible stance could trigger expulsion from the coalition. Published guidelines for DSA endorsements explicitly require candidates to actively support BDS and abstain from any affiliations with the Israeli government or organizations identified as Zionist lobbying groups. The national organization declined to comment on the ongoing deliberations.
The friction stems from a well-documented history of ideological independence by Raman. The local chapter previously censured her in 2024 after she accepted an endorsement from Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles, though that dispute did not sever ties. Raman also broke with organizational consensus by voting to approve Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell over objections from socialist activists, and she sought legislative modifications to the city’s real estate transfer tax, commonly known as the mansion tax.
Addressing voters directly, Raman has repeatedly emphasized her autonomy from party orthodoxy. During a September 29 Jewish voter forum, she defended her characterization of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide while simultaneously declining to incorporate BDS into her municipal platform, affirming her belief in Israel’s right to exist. Following the forum, Raman reiterated her independence to reporters, stating that her autonomy remains paramount. In subsequent remarks, she described her governing philosophy as sewer socialism or pothole politics, emphasizing a practical focus on municipal service delivery.
The current dispute reflects broader nationwide tensions between pragmatic progressive candidates and ideological gatekeepers. In July 2024, national DSA leadership withdrew a conditional endorsement of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over unmet demands concerning Israel and BDS, though her local New York City chapter maintained its support. Ocasio-Cortez later pledged opposition to U.S. funding for Israel, securing subsequent local endorsement despite substantial internal opposition.
