Deputy City Attorney Ethan Weaver conceded defeat March 14 in the race for the 4th District seat in Los Angeles against incumbent Nithya Raman.
The announcement came two days after Ms. Raman clinched a majority vote in the race—where she ran against Mr. Weaver and neighborhood council member Levon Baronian—surpassing the threshold needed to avoid a runoff.
“While I’m sorry our campaign wasn’t successful, I’m not regretful about running or a single moment of our effort,” Mr. Weaver said in a statement. “For now, I will continue the job I truly love as a deputy city attorney. But I will continue to be involved in the community and to speak on the issues that I care about.”
He called Ms. Raman Thursday afternoon to concede the race, according to Ms. Raman’s campaign team.
“One thing was clear to me in the conversations I had in backyards, in living rooms, and at doors during this campaign: this city is so full of hope and possibility, and there are so many people who believe very deeply in its future,” she wrote on X.
As of March 15, Ms. Raman has garnered 50.65 percent of the vote, leading the race by over 7,700, according to unofficial results from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Her opponent, Mr. Weaver, follows in second place at 38.61 percent, and Mr. Baronian with 10.74 percent.
The county is still counting votes for at least the next two weeks. Results must be certified by March 29.
Ms. Raman, a member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America—defeated then-incumbent Councilman David Ryu in 2020. After redistricting in 2021, her district now spans from Silver Lake to Reseda.
She championed solutions to homelessness and the housing crisis in her campaign. Additionally, she emphasized her commitment to advocating for renters’ rights and protections.
Likewise, Mr. Weaver outlined his priorities including addressing the city’s homelessness crisis and improving public safety, while also focusing on increasing housing, supporting first responders, and bolstering small businesses.
“Running for public office was the furthest thing from my mind when I graduated law school. All I wanted to do was serve the public as a prosecutor and for eight years I did that in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office,” he said. “But in serving in that capacity, I saw the bloated and ineffective government bureaucracy that did not solve problems, but often exacerbated them.”
He added, “I sought to put myself out there as a problem solving candidate. And I know that Councilmember Raman did too.”
