For the past year, candidates running to succeed Sen. Ben Allen in the State Senate have visited our Club. On September 10, they’ll share the stage together for the first time. Join us at the Church In Ocean Park (and on Zoom) for the first candidates debate of the SD24 Senate race. 

Date: September 10, 2025

Time: Doors Open 6:30pm, Program Start 7:00pm

Location: Church In Ocean Park (235 Hill Street)
                    OR via Zoom (all meetings are hybrid)

RSVP Now: https://forms.gle/WV4NzDFRqYV93JZU7

Confirmed Debate Participants:
Former Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Eric Alegria

West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson

Neighborhood Leader & Civil Rights Activist Ellen Evans

Democratic Strategist & Small Business Owner Brian Goldsmith

LA Human Relations Committee President Brittany McKinley

Former LA Planning Commissioner Mike Newhouse

Santa Monica College Board of Trustees Vice Chair Dr. Sion Roy

Venice Neighborhood Councilmember Nico Ruderman

Then, just one week later, we will start to make endorsements for the big elections of 2026. And, yes, we now even have to add one special election endorsement for November 4, 2025, too!

At our September 17 Membership Meeting, members will vote on endorsements in:  

• State Proposition 50 (Election Rigging Response Act)  
• State Treasurer  
• Attorney General  
• Secretary of State  
• State Controller  
• State Senate (SD24)  

Treasurer’s Race Update: Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis has shifted from the governor’s race to run for Treasurer. This prompted Mayor Libby Schaaf to exit the race and endorse her longtime friend, LG Kounalakis. Fortunately, Kounalakis has already visited SMDC earlier this year during her gubernatorial run. You can watch her appearance here.

Other Treasurer candidates have also engaged with our Club: Senator Anna Caballero spoke with members (watch here), and Board of Equalization Member Tony Vazquez both visited with us (watch here) and submitted a written response to our questions, which you can read here. We’ve now sent the same set of questions to LG Kounalakis, and will share her responses if she provides them before our endorsement vote.

⚠️ To vote at the 9/17 meeting, you must be a member in good standing. The deadline has now passed for brand new or lapsed members to vote at this meeting. However, if you were a 2024 member, you can still renew at smdems.org/join.

 🚨To vote, you must RSVP for the September 17 Endorsement Meeting at the following link in order to receive a ballot: https://forms.gle/WRc7bugstTLnHtFC9

 Date: September 17, 2025
 Time: Doors Open 6:30pm, Program Start 7:00pm
 Location:  Zoom ONLY
 RSVP Now: https://forms.gle/WRc7bugstTLnHtFC9

You will not receive a ballot unless you RSVP at that link. According to our bylaws, “only those members on whose election ballot an office or ballot measure will appear” may vote in a given race. Thus, all Californians will be able to vote on the first five endorsements listed above, but only those who reside in Senate District 24 can vote on the State Senate endorsement.