Santa Monica Forward, a local civic organization, endorsed Mayor Caroline Torosis and two challengers for City Council on Thursday, July 9, days before the nomination period opens.

The group named Torosis, Eli Gill, and Brett Morrow as its picks for the three council seats on the Tuesday, November 3 ballot. Co-chairs Sam Shapiro-Kline and Brad Ewing said the trio has "the record, urgency, and expertise to make this city affordable, vibrant, and safe for everyone who calls it home."

The endorsement lands four days before candidates can officially file. The nomination period opens Monday, July 13, with a Candidate Workshop at 10 a.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. Filing closes Friday, August 7 at 5 p.m., though the deadline extends to Wednesday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m. if an incumbent does not file.

Who they endorsed

Torosis, first elected in 2022, is seeking a second four-year term. Santa Monica Forward credited her with launching the city's Realignment Plan, hiring City Manager Oliver Chi, and securing events tied to the 2026 World Cup.

Gill is described in the endorsement as a longtime renter and parent who commutes by bike to downtown Santa Monica and brings private-sector operational experience. His specific employer was not named.

Morrow serves as Chief Communications Officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, where he has spent two decades leading the agency through emergencies.

Why it matters

Santa Monica Forward framed the race around five problems: high housing costs pushing out teachers and service workers, shuttered storefronts on the Promenade, chronic homelessness, city finances requiring hard decisions, and traffic deaths and injuries.

Santa Monica declared fiscal distress in 2025 after more than $229 million in sexual abuse settlement payouts. The city's 2025-2026 budget projected $484.3 million in expenditures against $473.5 million in revenue, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times reported the city projects a $5.4-million surplus by the end of fiscal year 2026-27 if its downtown revival strategy succeeds.

Torosis told the Times in April: "We have to bring economic recovery back, and we weren't going to do that doing business as usual."

What's next

Three council seats are up November 3, alongside three Rent Control Board seats, four Santa Monica-Malibu School District Board seats, and four Santa Monica College District Board seats. The City Council formally called the election at its Tuesday, June 9 meeting.

No other declared candidates have been publicly identified. Residents interested in running can visit santamonica.gov/elections for filing information and appointment times starting Monday, July 13.