Eleven candidates want three open Santa Monica City Council seats, and the week of July 7 marks the race's first major test: a Democratic Club debate Wednesday, July 8, endorsement votes Thursday, July 9, and nominating petitions beginning to circulate Monday, July 13.

The stakes aren't about flipping the council's 6-1 liberal majority. They're about which faction within that majority controls three seats on the seven-member body through 2030.

Debate at Church in Ocean Park

Ten of the 11 candidates will face off Wednesday, July 8 at the Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill Street. The event is free, open to the public, and will be live-streamed on Zoom. Participating: Mayor Caroline Torosis, Councilmember Lana Negrete, Angela Scott, Doug Trussler, Ashley Oelsen, Danny Ivanov, Wade Kelley, Eli Gill, Brett Morrow, and Ericka Lesley.

Former Mayor Phil Brock, who announced his candidacy after the debate sign-up deadline, will not participate.

Two slates taking shape

Negrete announced in her Monday, July 6 newsletter that she's running on a slate with Oelsen, a vocal critic of the council's pro-development policies, and Trussler, a local businessman whose firm, Bison Capital, manages roughly $1 billion in assets, according to the Santa Monica Lookout.

A rival establishment slate has not formally announced. The Lookout reports that Torosis, Morrow, and Scott are the likeliest combination, but the lineup won't solidify until after the Democratic Club and SMRR make their endorsements. Morrow serves as chief communications officer for the LA County Department of Public Health; Scott sits on the city's Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission.

The factional divide is already visible on the dais. Negrete has been the council's lone dissenting vote on multiple occasions, including a 6-1 decision on the Neighborhood Organization Grant Program at a Tuesday, March 24 special meeting, per council minutes.

Key dates ahead

Candidates must collect at least 100 signatures from registered Santa Monica voters and file nominating papers by Friday, August 7. If Councilmember Jesse Zwick, who has not indicated whether he'll seek a second term, does not file, the deadline extends to Wednesday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m.

The Democratic Club votes on endorsements for the council, school board, college board, and Rent Control Board races at its annual endorsements meeting Thursday, July 9, held via Zoom only.

Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights holds its 2026 convention Saturday, August 9 at the Grant Elementary School Auditorium to decide which candidates and ballot measures receive the organization's backing ahead of the Tuesday, November 3 general election.

The first endorsement results from Thursday's Democratic Club vote will begin to clarify which candidates land on the establishment slate.