Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, The Associated Press called Thursday, delivering a victory to a challenger backed by the Democratic Socialists of America.

The outcome ends Bass’ bid for a second term and elevates Raman to leadership of the nation’s second-largest city following a campaign centered on whether Los Angeles needed a change at City Hall.

Raman, 45, initially endorsed Bass before entering the race herself. She challenged the 73-year-old incumbent’s management of the city, while Bass argued that her administration had made progress and questioned whether Raman’s six years on the council adequately prepared her for the job.

Bass faced criticism over the city’s response to the Palisades Fire, which erupted while she was outside the country, and persistent frustration over homelessness and city services.

The race shifted as ballots were counted. Bass held a narrow advantage in the first returns Tuesday, but Raman gained ground through subsequent updates and moved ahead early Wednesday. Later-arriving ballots were expected to favor the younger, more liberal voters Raman had courted throughout her campaign.

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