Raman leads young voters, but Bass relies on low turnout

Nithya Raman holds a substantial lead over Mayor Karen Bass among young voters in the Los Angeles mayoral race. The data shows Raman leading Bass by 58 points among voters aged 30 to 39. In the 18 to 29 age bracket, Raman also leads with 69 percent support compared to 15 percent for Bass.

The campaign is targeting this demographic through specific advertising strategies. Raman has released a micro-drama video featuring a character in red flannel who compares her nonconformist attitude to Raman’s stance on police officer pay. That ad has received over 200,000 views on social media. Another commercial showing a young couple benefiting from improved public transit has garnered 400,000 views. Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for the Raman campaign, said the team partners with content creators to introduce the candidate to new audiences.

Raman’s appeal to younger voters is linked to her focus on affordable housing and renter protections. A September poll identified building more affordable housing as a top priority for younger adults. In the June 2 primary, Raman received 37 percent of the vote in neighborhoods where at least 80 percent of households rent, while Bass received 28 percent.

Brandon Whalen-Castellanos, a 32-year-old urban planner, cited Raman’s background as a reason for his support. He moved to Los Angeles from Orange County seven years ago and said he identifies with her story. Whalen-Castellanos voted for Bass in 2022 but described the current political climate as ineffective.

Bass is not conceding the younger electorate. She pointed to her history as a young organizer and said she understands the perspectives of younger people without lecturing them. Her campaign includes a surrogate group called Youth 4 Bass, led by 22-year-old Sabahat Nabiha. Nabiha, a UC Davis graduate, said the group has about 240 members and holds in-person events on college campuses.

Some young voter groups have shifted their support. The Black L.A. Young Democrats, which Bass helped launch in 2012, endorsed Raman this cycle. Bailey Swain, the group’s president, said the board found Raman more aligned with their views on police accountability and budget issues. The group has about 500 members.

Despite the polling lead, turnout among younger voters remains low. As of Wednesday, only 13 percent of eligible voters between ages 18 and 34 have submitted their ballots. In contrast, 47 percent of voters over 65 have cast their votes, according to Political Data Intelligence. Laura Wray-Lake, a UCLA professor, noted that younger voters are unpredictable but respond to competitive races and clear issue positions.

Eunisses Hernandez, the youngest member of the City Council, said she found young people to be disillusioned rather than apathetic during her recent reelection campaign. She emphasized the need to discuss concrete solutions rather than generic political language. The mayoral election is scheduled for Tuesday.