Raman Criticized for Hiring Firm Linked to Platner

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman faced sharp criticism from her own party supporters after explaining her decision to hire a consulting firm previously linked to a scandal-plagued Senate candidate during a debate with incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. The confrontation on Wednesday night highlighted the political risks of the decision as Raman seeks to unseat Bass in the November election.

During the debate, Raman confirmed her campaign has engaged Fight Agency, a progressive media and consulting firm, to produce television advertisements. The firm is best known for its work on the successful mayoral campaign of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. However, it also managed the campaign of Graham Platner, the former Democratic primary candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Maine. Platner withdrew from that race in July after sexual assault allegations surfaced. His campaign had already been marred by controversies including a chest tattoo critics identified as a Nazi symbol and past inflammatory online comments.

A moderator directly asked Raman about the choice. "It was reported that you've hired the same political consulting firm that managed Graham Platner's campaign in Maine,...