Last night, ten Democratic candidates running for Santa Monica City Council faced off for more than two hours at the first major campaign event of the season as the Santa Monica Democratic Club hosted its biannual City Council Debate.
If you care about the future of Santa Monica, this is one worth watching.
Far from a series of prepared campaign speeches, the evening featured substantive exchanges, spirited rebuttals, and real debate over the issues shaping our city’s future. Candidates clashed over housing and affordability, transportation and mobility, homelessness, downtown recovery, public safety, the future of Santa Monica Airport, and how local government should respond to the Trump administration. Along the way, candidates challenged one another directly, defended their records, and offered sharply different visions for where Santa Monica should go next.
Whether you’re still deciding who to support or simply want to hear the candidates in their own words, this debate provides the clearest opportunity so far this election season to compare the field side by side.
In Case You Missed It , you can watch the entire debate here:
Thank you to all ten candidates for joining us for a thoughtful, substantive, and respectful discussion.
And don’t wait too long to catch up. The Santa Monica Democratic Club votes on endorsements next Wednesday, July 15, for City Council, School Board, College Board, and Rent Control Board. If you’re planning to vote, now is the time to watch the debate before making your decisions.
One RSVP covers all three July events. If you’ve already RSVP’d for last night’s meeting, you’re all set.
https://forms.gle/Et8DvGz8sBBwUih5A
To vote on July 15:
Be a 2026 member in good standing
RSVP for the July meetings (here)
(📸: Jai Paton)