24 DAILY NEWS – Two democratic socialists are competing for the mayoral position in Los Angeles, yet many on the West Coast’s left feel a looming sense of defeat.
Rae Huang and Nithya Raman have been likened to Southern California’s version of Zohran Mamdani. However, as the election draws closer, many leftists acknowledge that both candidates may lack the coalition-building skills and appeal that propelled Mamdani’s success in New York City. While Huang articulates a platform appealing to progressives, Raman has shown political acumen, but Mamdani’s success stemmed from possessing both.
### Election Dynamics
With less than a week until election day and a crowded nonpartisan primary, Huang, Raman, and 11 other candidates are vying for the position, primarily to secure a place against presumed front-runner, incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass. If no candidate secures over 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates will compete in a runoff scheduled for
