Brian Goldsmith, a Democrat, is running for California State Senate District 24 in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Goldsmith grew up in West Los Angeles and said he is raising his family in the district, according to his campaign website. John M. Erickson, also a Democrat, is the other candidate in the race.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Office sought: California State Senate, District 24
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in government, Harvard University, 2005; juris doctor, Stanford University, 2012
  • Endorsement: Democrats for Israel Los Angeles

Experience and public service

Goldsmith said he worked as campaign staff on Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign from 2000 to 2001. He said he has written for The Atlantic and Politico.

He served as co-host and executive producer at Katie Couric Media from 2016 to 2018 and as a political consultant at Yahoo News during the same period, according to BallotReady. He has been principal at Kona Media since 2019, an investor at Angel Investments since 2011 and founder of Scriber since 2022, according to BallotReady.

On the issues

The following positions are based on Goldsmith's responses as reported by the Santa Monica Daily Press and his campaign issues page.

Housing: Goldsmith said he wants to speed up permitting and streamline regulations so building can start soon after financing is secured. He said he supports modernizing the California Environmental Quality Act so that the environment is protected but projects that can create jobs and build housing are not stuck in years of review. He also said he supports down payment assistance for new homebuyers and prioritizing workforce housing for public servants.

"It shouldn't cost twice as much per square foot to build multifamily in California as it does in Texas," Goldsmith said on his campaign issues page.

Education: Goldsmith said California's K-12 system is underperforming in areas like third-grade reading and math. He said the state has spent millions and passed countless bills but needs to change how it measures success. Results are not improving, he said.

Gun safety: Goldsmith said he supports banning assault weapons and guns that can be easily converted into assault weapons or automatics. He said the state should eliminate all sales and gun show loopholes, strengthen dealer inspections and regulate 3D-printed weapons and the use of artificial intelligence in building and converting weapons.

Environment and energy: Goldsmith said he wants to make climate change a budget priority, including support for lower- and middle-income Californians and those most impacted by pollution to decarbonize their lives and reduce energy costs. He said he supports building clean energy projects on developed land such as rooftops, brownfields, reservoirs and agricultural lands with degraded soils. He also said he would designate a staff person focused on the Palisades and Malibu rebuilding effort.

Public safety: Goldsmith said he supports funding community-based policing, early intervention programs and adequate staffing for law enforcement. He said he wants to tackle safety challenges in communities where homes are being rebuilt, saying home and business owners should not need to hire private security.

Candidate responses were drawn from Goldsmith's campaign website, BallotReady profile data and the Santa Monica Daily Press. Voters can learn more at briangoldsmith.com.