Poll Shows Raman Leading Bass in Los Angeles Race

By David Thornton Columbus, OH · LOS ANGELES —

Published 5 min read

A new Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll places Nithya Raman ahead of Karen Bass 39% to 28% among likely Los Angeles voters. Thirty-three percent of voters remain undecided as the November 3 general election approaches.

LOS ANGELES — A Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll released Wednesday showed Nithya Raman leading Karen Bass 39% to 28% among likely Los Angeles voters. The survey found that 33% of likely Los Angeles voters remain undecided ahead of the November 3 general election. Nithya Raman said: "We have a number of groups that we work closely with in government. I see the DSA as a partner for a lot of the work that we’ve done."

Raman stated in a podcast interview that she would be very supportive of President Donald Trump's proposed nationwide tax incentive for film and television production. "I would be very supportive of it," she said. "I'm going to take any kinds of support for this industry that we can get from any level of government. Absolutely."

Spencer Pratt, a former mayoral candidate, criticized Raman for not doing enough to help the film industry despite her support for Trump’s tax credit plan. Pratt met with President Donald Trump to advocate for a 25% federal film tax credit. Spencer Pratt said: "I got the film tax credit to the President and worked directly with Senator (Adam) Schiff to move it forward. Why isn’t Nithya doing that?." Pratt said: "I have zero political power, and I got more done in 3 weeks than she has in 3 years. If I can do it, what’s her excuse? She legit doesn’t wanna work."

California’s creative economy shed roughly 114,000 jobs, a 14% decline, between 2022 and 2025, according to a study by Otis College of Art and Design and Westwood Economics and Planning Consultants. Employment in film, television, and sound fell nearly 30% between 2022 and 2025, while traditional media jobs dropped by almost 34%, according to the study.

Karen Bass finished first in the June primary election with 34% of the vote, while Raman finished second with 29% and Pratt finished third with 25.5%. Over 217,000 people voted for Pratt in the primary election.

The Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll showed Bass with a 63% unfavorable rating and a 28% favorable rating, with 9% having no opinion. The survey was conducted online with a sample of 2,150 likely city voters between September 15 and September 20, with a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.

Bass stated that polls are a snapshot in time and that her campaign is taking nothing for granted. "I've seen a lot of polls, and one thing that we knew about all the polls that we have seen is that this is going to be a tight race. And a poll is a snapshot in a period of time," Bass said.

"We are taking nothing, not a single vote, for granted. 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. Read our plans. Come and meet me at an event. You may find that we have more in common than you expect."

As of September 19, Bass raised approximately $2.51 million total, including $1.5 million in direct contributions and nearly $1 million in matching funds, according to City Ethics Commission filings. Financial reports indicated Raman had $1.9 million cash on hand compared to Bass's nearly $1.2 million as of September 19.

Why It Matters

The poll indicates that a large portion of undecided voters are former supporters of Spencer Pratt, making his endorsement or criticism potentially influential in the general election. With 33% of likely voters remaining undecided, the distribution of Pratt's primary support could determine the outcome between Raman and Bass.

The film industry has experienced job losses, with employment in film, television, and sound falling nearly 30% between 2022 and 2025. Both candidates have outlined different approaches to addressing these economic challenges, with Raman proposing legislative and administrative changes while Pratt claims direct federal advocacy achievements.

Timeline

Karen Bass finished first in the June primary election with 34% of the vote, while Nithya Raman finished second with 29% and Spencer Pratt finished third with 25.5%. Over 217,000 people voted for Spencer Pratt in the primary election. Nithya Raman met with Arnold Schwarzenegger at his Santa Monica office to discuss issues with Hollywood, business, and civic leaders.

Financial reports indicated Nithya Raman had $1.9 million cash on hand compared to Karen Bass's nearly $1.2 million as of September 19. As of September 19, Karen Bass raised approximately $2.51 million total, including $1.5 million in direct contributions and nearly $1 million in matching funds, according to City Ethics Commission filings.

What's New

The director of the Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll stated that a large number of undecided voters are former Spencer Pratt voters from the primary. Nithya Raman stated that nearly 4,000 individual donors helped her campaign qualify for more matching funds than any candidate in city history.

Spencer Pratt, a former mayoral candidate, claimed he secured a federal film tax credit proposal with Senator Adam Schiff and criticized Nithya Raman for not achieving similar results despite her support for Trump’s tax credit plan. Karen Bass released a second campaign ad titled "Deliver" focusing on undecided voters, which has run on broadcast television and digital streaming platforms. Nithya Raman stated she is not uncomfortable with the DSA's use of the term "co-governance" or its practice of endorsing candidates and expecting elected representatives to answer to it. Nithya Raman stated she believes her message that Los Angeles is on the wrong track and not serving everyone is resonating with voters.

How Sources Differ

The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by The Los Angel reported that a Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll released Wednesday showed Nithya Raman leading Karen Bass 39% to 28% among likely Los Angeles voters.

The primary source plus Spencer Pratt criticized Nithya Raman for not doing enough to help the film industry despite her support for Trump's tax credit.

Regarding undecided voter composition, the director of the Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll stated that a large number of undecided voters are former Spencer Pratt voters from the primary. The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by The Los Angel reported that the Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll found that 33% of likely Los Angeles voters remain undecided ahead of the November 3 general election.

Regarding federal tax credit positions, hollywoodreporter.com reported that Spencer Pratt met with President Donald Trump to advocate for a 25% federal film tax credit. Nithya Raman reported that Nithya Raman stated in a podcast interview with Breaking Points that she would be very supportive of President Donald Trump's proposed nationwide tax incentive for film and television production.

Regarding Nithya Raman's campaign message, the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by The Los Angel reported that a Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll released Wednesday showed Nithya Raman leading Karen Bass 39% to 28% among likely Los Angeles voters.

fact_check Facts

Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
Nithya Raman stated in a podcast interview with Breaking Points that she would be very supportive of President Donald Trump's proposed nationwide tax incentive for film and television production.
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
Nithya Raman stated that Hollywood must be competitive within the U.S. and nationally, noting that studios have looked to other states and countries due to high production costs in California.
Spencer Pratt criticized Nithya Raman for not doing enough to help the film industry despite her support for Trump's tax credit.
Spencer Pratt met with President Donald Trump to advocate for a 25% federal film tax credit.
Spencer Pratt, Former Mayoral Candidate
"I got the film tax credit to the President and worked directly with Senator (Adam) Schiff to move it forward. Why isn’t Nithya doing that?"
Spencer Pratt, Former Mayoral Candidate
"I have zero political power, and I got more done in 3 weeks than she has in 3 years. If I can do it, what’s her excuse? She legit doesn’t wanna work."
Nithya Raman announced she would establish a LA Film Office in the mayor’s office to persuade studios to pursue local production.
Nithya Raman called for faster permitting for films and lower fees for indie-sized projects.
Nithya Raman stated on her website that she would advocate for the most expansive possible film tax credits at the state and federal level.
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
Nithya Raman described the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as a partner in her work at City Hall in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
Nithya Raman cited tenant protections and charter reform as areas where the DSA played a role.
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
"They’ve been a strong partner of the tenant protections that I helped pass and were a huge voice for charter reform, including some of the things that didn’t happen."
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
Nithya Raman stated she will continue to welcome the DSA's partnership if she becomes mayor.
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
"I will continue to welcome their partnership and will always work alongside organizations that are active in Los Angeles and are trying to shape the city."
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
"I think it clearly makes the news media uncomfortable, because they report on it all the time. But it doesn’t make me uncomfortable, because I’m responsive to all my constituents, whether I do exactly what they want or not."
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
"I show up. I engage. Sometimes I make them very happy; sometimes I make them very angry. That’s part of what being an elected representative means."
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
Nithya Raman confirmed she participates in co-governing with everyone.
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
"With everyone, with everyone. Yes. With everyone."
A Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll released Wednesday showed Nithya Raman leading Karen Bass 39% to 28% among likely Los Angeles voters.
The Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll found that 33% of likely Los Angeles voters remain undecided ahead of the November 3 general election.
The Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll showed Karen Bass with a 63% unfavorable rating and a 28% favorable rating, with 9% having no opinion.
The Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll showed Nithya Raman with a 40% favorable rating and a 39% unfavorable rating, with 21% having no opinion.
The Berkeley IGS/LA Times survey was conducted online with a sample of 2,150 likely city voters between September 15 and September 20, with a margin of error of about 3 percentage points.
The director of the Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll stated that a large number of undecided voters are former Spencer Pratt voters from the primary.
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
"We are taking nothing, not a single vote, for granted. 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. Read our plans. Come and meet me at an event. You may find that we have more in common than you expect."
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
Nithya Raman stated she believes her message that Los Angeles is on the wrong track and not serving everyone is resonating with voters.
As of September 19, Karen Bass raised approximately $2.51 million total, including $1.5 million in direct contributions and nearly $1 million in matching funds, according to City Ethics Commission filings.
As of September 19, Nithya Raman raised approximately $2.53 million total, including $1.1 million in direct contributions and $1.4 million in matching funds, according to City Ethics Commission filings.
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
"Nearly 4,000 individual donors helped us qualify for more matching funds than any candidate in city history, and I'm deeply grateful to everyone who contributed."
Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Council Member
"Mayor Bass has the backing of the political establishment and corporations, but our campaign is powered by an extraordinary wave of grassroots support from Angelenos who are ready to change the direction of our city."
Julie C. Rodriguez, Bass Campaign Chief Strategist
Julie C. Rodriguez, Bass campaign chief strategist, stated that the mayor's resources allow for a robust campaign in the final weeks.
Julie C. Rodriguez, Bass Campaign Chief Strategist
"The mayor and her entire operation have been hard at work doing everything needed to win. These resources give us what we need to run a robust campaign in the homestretch, including our field program and paid media ads to highlight the mayor's accomplishments and second-term vision and contrast them with Nithya Raman's paper-thin record and out-of-touch positions."
Financial reports indicated Nithya Raman had $1.9 million cash on hand compared to Karen Bass's nearly $1.2 million as of September 19.
Karen Bass released a campaign ad titled "I Don't Run"/"No le teme a nadie" highlighting her standing up against federal immigration agents in MacArthur Park.
Karen Bass released a second campaign ad titled "Deliver" focusing on undecided voters, which has run on broadcast television and digital streaming platforms.
Nithya Raman's campaign released a campaign ad focused on Hollywood and narrated by actor Bob Odenkirk.
Nithya Raman met with Arnold Schwarzenegger at his Santa Monica office to discuss issues with Hollywood, business, and civic leaders.

menu_bookBackground & Sources

Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report, with the primary source for each item shown below it.

Nithya Raman is a Los Angeles City Council member and a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles.
California’s creative economy shed roughly 114,000 jobs, a 14% decline, between 2022 and 2025, according to a study by Otis College of Art and Design and Westwood Economics and Planning Consultants.
Employment in film, television, and sound fell nearly 30% between 2022 and 2025, while traditional media jobs dropped by almost 34%, according to a study by Otis College of Art and Design and Westwood Economics and Planning Consultants.
Karen Bass finished first in the June primary election with 34% of the vote, while Nithya Raman finished second with 29% and Spencer Pratt finished third with 25.5%.
Over 217,000 people voted for Spencer Pratt in the primary election.
Mail-in ballots for the Los Angeles election go out starting October 1.
Spencer Pratt, a former mayoral candidate, claimed he secured a federal film tax credit proposal with Senator Adam Schiff and criticized Nithya Raman for not achieving similar results despite her support for Trump’s tax credit plan.
Nithya Raman has not authored any legislation specifically aimed at supporting the film industry during her five years on the City Council, according to a statement from Mayor Karen Bass's campaign.
Nithya Raman did not introduce any legislation aimed at supporting the film industry during her six years on the Los Angeles City Council, according to city records cited in a New York Post report.
Source: cd4.lacity.gov
The City Ethics Commission’s 2026 filings show Raman raised $2.53 million in campaign contributions as of September 19, 2026, including $1.4 million in matching funds, according to City Ethics Commission records cited in known facts.
In an interview with Deadline, Nithya Raman emphasized that she would advocate for an uncapped state film tax credit program and push for guaranteed incentives for the industry.
Nithya Raman stated that she would establish a LA Film Office within the mayor’s office to better coordinate with the film industry and promote local production.
Raman’s 2025 campaign website explicitly stated her intention to advocate for “uncapped” state and federal film tax credits, a policy position later echoed in her public statements about industry competitiveness, according to her official website archives.

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