Local politics in Los Angeles rarely intersects directly with intense foreign policy flashpoints, but a single word changed that dynamic on a Tuesday night at the Skirball Cultural Center. When mayoral challenger Nithya Raman took the stage at the Jewish Los Angeles Mayoral Forum, she didn't shy away from the Middle East. Instead, she doubled down on a term that immediately fractured the room: genocide.
For months, voters watched a tense runoff take shape between incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman. While Raman built her campaign largely on local issues like housing, homelessness, and street safety, foreign policy took center stage under the glow of American and Israeli flags. Moderated by Spectrum news anchor Alex Cohen, the forum organized by Jewish Federation Los Angeles, ADL Los Angeles, and other community partners quickly forced both candidates to stake out their positions.
Raman addressed the crowd by pointing directly to the images emerging from Gaza—the mounting child casualties and the destruction of hospitals. She acknowledged the deep pain carried by the term, yet insisted that the devastation amounted to genocide. The remark drew an immediate wave of audible groans and sharp displeasure from the audience inside the Skirball auditorium.
The backlash didn't stop at the use of the 'g' word. When pressed on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, Raman defended BDS as a legitimate form of peaceful protest, though she noted it wasn't part of her official municipal platform. That stance triggered another round of heavy auditorium groans, highlighting the steep uphill battle she faces in capturing traditional Jewish voters ahead of the November runoff.
To ease concerns, Raman sought to draw a clear line between her foreign policy views and antisemitism. She reminded attendees that she was among the first at City Hall to condemn the October 7 attacks without reservation. Yet, for many in the audience, those assurances were overshadowed by her willingness to label Israel's military campaign a genocide.
When incumbent Mayor Karen Bass stepped up to the podium, she took a distinctly different approach. Bass rejected the genocide term outright, choosing instead to lean into her long-standing history and deep ties within the local Jewish community. Rather than getting bogged down in international definitions, Bass pivoted quickly to domestic concerns, emphasizing the city's urgent need to expand the police force and tackle public safety head-on.
The sharp divide between the two candidates highlights a major strategic gamble for the remainder of the election cycle. Recent polling from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and the Los Angeles Times shows Raman holding a narrow lead among voters, drawing strong support from younger demographics. Meanwhile, Bass maintains a loyal base among older voters, even as she fights to improve her overall favorability ratings following a bruising primary where she secured 34% of the vote to Raman's 29%.
Outside groups are already pouring millions into the race, with organizations like the Los Angeles Police Protective League spending heavily against Raman. As the election heads toward the final weeks, the friction at the Skirball Center proves that international flashpoints can dramatically alter municipal elections in diverse cities like Los Angeles. Voters must now decide whether local governance should be weighed against foreign policy stances or if domestic bread-and-butter issues like housing and crime should remain the sole focus. Watch how both campaigns adjust their messaging over the next month, because the battle for the center lane of Los Angeles politics is officially wide open.
