Asian Americans to hold all three citywide offices in L.A.

Los Angeles will see all three citywide elective offices held by Asian Americans for the first time following last week's midterm elections. Mayor-elect Nithya Raman, City Attorney-elect Marissa Roy, and Controller Kenneth Mejia will lead the city's executive branch. This marks a change in the demographic makeup of the top elected positions in the city.

Mejia, who is Filipino, secured a second four-year term in June. He became the first Asian American elected to a citywide office in Los Angeles four years ago. Raman arrived in the United States from India at age 6. Roy's mother also emigrated from India. The three officials will work together to manage city operations, legal matters, and financial oversight.

Manjusha P. Kulkarni, executive director of the AAPI Equity Alliance, described the outcome as a historic moment for the city and state. She said the organization's decades of work have led to this level of representation. Kulkarni noted that Asian American voters have shifted toward progressive politics over the years. Raman and Roy received endorsements from the Democratic Socialists of America, while the group recommended Mejia.

Roy frequently discussed her mother's immigrant background during her campaign. She served as a founding board member of Asian Democrats of Los Angeles County. Her backers included California Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu. Roy said her win represents a moment for the broader immigrant community. She received messages from family members in India who watched her victory closely.

Raman acknowledged the significance of voters choosing an immigrant for mayor during a period of mass deportations. She said the city's openness to newcomers is deeply moving to her. Raman became the first Asian American woman elected to the City Council in 2020. She represents District 4. Two other Asian Americans currently serve on the council: Ysabel Jurado of District 14 and John Lee of District 12.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up about 12 percent of the city's population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. They constitute more than 1 million eligible voters in Los Angeles County, according to Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. Nina Long, policy manager for AAPI Force, said the candidates reached out to diverse groups within the community, including Chinese, Korean, and Filipino voters. She said the candidates did not treat the group as a single voting bloc.

Jurado, who became the first Filipina elected to the council in 2024, said the new leadership reflects generations of organizing. She plans to push for policies that make living in Los Angeles more affordable. Mejia said the new leadership shows that the city values people over special interests. He noted that many immigrants are paying closer attention to politics as life becomes harder.