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ELECTION 2026- Political labels matter especially when someone is asking voters to entrust them with governing one of America's largest and most complex cities.
For years, Los Angeles Councilwoman Nithya Raman has publicly identified herself as a democratic socialist. Yet when CNN's Elex Michaelson recently asked her what distinguishes a Democrat from a democratic socialist, she did not offer a clear definition. Instead, she suggested that democratic socialists care more about renters.
Supporting renters is not unique to democratic socialism. Public officials across the political spectrum advocate for affordable housing in different ways. What distinguishes political philosophies is not simply whom they seek to help, but how they believe society should be governed, how markets should function, and what role government should play.
The term 'democratic socialism' is used differently by different politicians and movements. That is precisely why voters deserve to hear how Raman herself defines it. When a candidate voluntarily embraces a political label, voters should not have to guess what it means.
The interview became even more revealing when Michaelson asked Raman whether she considers herself a capitalist. Again, viewers were left without a direct answer.
That matters because Los Angeles is facing extraordinary challenges: housing affordability, homelessness, public safety, economic uncertainty, deteriorating infrastructure, and a growing lack of public confidence in City Hall. Leadership requires more than slogans; it requires clarity.
Political philosophy is not an academic exercise. It influences decisions about housing, policing, taxation, regulation, economic growth, public spending, and the relationship between citizens and government. Voters cannot fairly evaluate a candidate's vision if that vision is never clearly explained.
Raman also spoke about moving beyond 'pay-to-play' politics. Few Angelenos would disagree with that goal. Transparency and accountability are essential to restoring trust in government. But transparency also means being transparent about one's own beliefs and governing philosophy.
This debate is not about whether democratic socialism is right or wrong. Reasonable people can disagree. It is about accountability. If a candidate adopts a political label, that candidate should be willing to define it, defend it, and explain how it would shape public policy.
Raman is correct that many Angelenos are looking for something different. After years of frustration over affordability, homelessness, public safety, and city services, voters are searching for leadership that delivers measurable results. But 'different' is not, by itself, a governing philosophy.
Los Angeles is too important for vague answers. Nearly four million residents deserve leaders who explain not only what they want to do, but why they believe it will work. If Nithya Raman wants voters to embrace democratic socialism, the first responsibility is simple: define it, defend it, and explain how it will make life better for the people she hopes to serve. Until then, one of the most important questions facing voters remains unanswered.
(Yonthan Mendal is an accomplished writer, researcher and leading expert on Jewish-Arab relations and Middle East affairs. He serves as Director of the Center for Jewish-Arab Relations at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and as a Research Fellow at the Forum for Regional Thought. His work focuses on politics, identity, media and regional dynamics in Israel and the broader Middle East. Widely respected for his scholarly analysis and public commentary, Mendel is a prominent voice on democracy, coexistence, public policy and cross-cultural dialogue.)
