By Jorge Casuso

July 20, 2026 -- Fifteen potential candidates pulled papers to run for three open City Council seats during the first week of the nominating period that kicked off Monday.

The candidates included incumbents Caroline Torosis and Lana Negrete, a wealth of newcomers, a candidate who has run for Council 16 times and a former mayor hoping to regain his seat.

The initial crowded field, which could grow over the next two to three weeks, is not uncommon for a City Council election, with the race two years ago drawing 21 potential candidates, with more than half dropping out.

In addition to Torosis and Negrete -- who are expected to head rival slates -- former Mayor Phil Brock pulled papers last week as he seeks to regain the seat he lost in 2024.

That race saw the City's liberal establishment sweep all four open seats to gain a 6 to 1 super-majority on the Council.

The opposing slate headed by Negrete, which includes environmentalist Ashley Oelson and businessman Doug Trussler, managed to prevent the establishment slate from winning an expected endorsement from the local Democratic Club last week.

The city's other political force -- Santa Monicans' for Renters' Rights -- is expected to endorse Torosis and help round out a slate at its Membership Convention August 9.

The frontrunners to win the group's backing are Brett Morrow, who like Torosis is an LA County employee, and Rent Control Board member Danny Ivanov.

Incumbent Councilmember Jesse Zwick did not pull papers last week and is not expected to run after being hired as director of a housing advocacy group, a position that disqualified him from voting on housing issues.

If Zwick does not run, the filing period will be extended from August 7 to August 12.

Other potential Council candidates who pulled papers last week include Rent Board member Ericka Lesley; abundant housing advocate Eli Gill, Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commissioner Angela Scott; street performer Wade Kelley, and Derrick Townsend, an occupational therapist at Kaiser-Permanente.

Of those, all but Townsend sought the Democratic Club's endorsement.

Also pulling papers last week were Lindsay Davies, Nathaniel Jones, Erik Kramer and Jonathan Mann, who pulled nominating papers in 2024 but did not return them for what would have been a 17th run.

Potential candidates must file their nominating papers signed by at least 100 registered Santa Monica voters by Friday August 7.

The filing period will be extended to Wednesday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m. if an incumbent does not file nomination papers. Councilmember Zwick has not indicated he plans to seek a second four-year term.

Candidates who would like a statement included in the Official Sample Ballot must pay a $1,100 fee.