Poll: Nithya Raman Opens Up Large Lead Over Bass; One-Third Of L.A. Voters Still Undecided

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA- Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman leads Mayor Karen Bass 39% to 28% among likely voters in a new poll by the University of California, Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times.

The poll, conducted September 15-20 among 2,150 respondents, found that 33% of likely voters remain undecided. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.

Poll director Mark DiCamillo told the Los Angeles Times that Raman “clearly has the advantage,” but said the large number of undecided voters makes the race unusually fluid.

Raman, who finished second to Bass in the June nonpartisan primary, had trailed the mayor in earlier polling. The latest survey found Raman leading Bass in nearly every part of the city. In the San Fernando Valley, Raman had 34% support to Bass’ 26%, while 40% were undecided. On the Westside, Raman led 35% to 34%.

The poll also found a wide age gap between the candidates. Raman led Bass 66% to 4% among voters ages 18 to 29 and 64% to 12% among those ages 30 to 39. Among voters ages 40 to 49, Raman led 50% to 18%. The race was considerably closer among voters ages 50 to 64, with Raman at 35% and Bass at 33%.

Bass faced a 63% disapproval rating in the survey, while 28% approved of her job performance and 9% had no opinion. Raman had a 40% favorable rating, compared with 39% unfavorable and 21% with no opinion.

DiCamillo told the Times he attributed the unusually large undecided bloc in part to voters who supported former reality television star Spencer Pratt in the primary. Pratt received about 217,000 votes, or 26% of the primary vote. Among Pratt voters who have chosen a candidate, 22% backed Bass and 16% backed Raman.

Raman has spent the summer criticizing Bass’ record, including her handling of homelessness and the city’s response to major fires. She has also received endorsements from labor groups, including Unite Here Local 11, and the Democratic Socialists of America.

“We are taking nothing, not a single vote, for granted,” Raman said in response to the poll. “So to every Angeleno who is still deciding, my ask is simple: Take a look at our campaign, and give me the opportunity to earn your vote.”

Mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 election begin going out October 1.