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(RNS) — Nithya Raman, a Hindu and Democratic Socialist, will become the next mayor of Los Angeles. Incumbent Karen Bass conceded the race Thursday morning.

Both candidates ran as Democrats, but Raman, a 45-year-old City Council member, painted the 73-year-old mayor as an establishment politician.

Raman is a practicing Hindu who hosted Diwali celebrations in City Hall while serving on the Los Angeles City Council. She is the city’s first Indian-American and Hindu mayor and the second woman elected to the position. She won just over 52% of votes.

Bass, who has been mayor since 2022, will leave office in December. When Raman takes over, the nation’s two biggest cities, New York City and Los Angeles, will be led by Indian American immigrants. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, born in Uganda, is Muslim.

Raman immigrated to the United States from Kerala, India, when she was 6 years old.…