The Santa Monica Democratic Club has thrown its weight behind Brian Goldsmith in the race for California State Senate District 24, handing him nearly 60% of the endorsement vote following a head-to-head debate against rival John Erickson. The vote makes Santa Monica's largest Democratic club within the district the latest organization to back Goldsmith, a first-time candidate for elected office, as he heads toward a November matchup against the West Hollywood city councilmember.
Club president Jon Katz said Goldsmith made the stronger impression during the debate, telling members, as reported by the Santa Monica Daily Press, that “Brian Goldsmith made a compelling case that he is that person.” Katz added that Santa Monica needs a state senator who understands the community and works with all stakeholders. Goldsmith, for his part, said he was grateful for the club's endorsement and framed grassroots Democratic organizations as, in his words, the heartbeat of the Democratic Party.
A Crowded Field Winnowed to Two Democrats
Goldsmith and Erickson are squaring off in the open race to succeed termed-out Senator Ben Allen, who is barred from seeking reelection and has instead advanced to the November ballot in his own bid for California Insurance Commissioner. The vacancy set off a scramble among Democrats for a seat covering parts of coastal western Los Angeles County, including Rancho Palos Verdes, Malibu, the Santa Monica Mountains, and West Hollywood — a district where Democratic voter registration sits at 49.4%, according to LAist.
Because the district leans so heavily Democratic, California's top-two primary system all but guaranteed an intraparty runoff once the June primary field narrowed. Erickson finished first with 20.5% of the primary vote, while Goldsmith placed second with 18.3%, edging out a ten-candidate field to claim the second general-election slot, per the Daily Bruin. Under the rules established by Proposition 14, the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party, which is how two Democrats ended up facing off for the seat.
Center-Left Positioning Against a Progressive Record
The general election has taken shape as a contest between Erickson and Goldsmith, with Goldsmith's campaign built around public safety and cost-of-living concerns, according to CityWatch LA. Goldsmith has repeatedly emphasized what he calls common-sense solutions to California's cost of living, homelessness, and attacks by the Trump administration. Goldsmith has worked as a media consultant and on Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign.
The Santa Monica club's vote adds to an endorsement list that Goldsmith's campaign says now tops 150 leaders and organizations. His backers include the Blue Wave Democratic Club, Culver City Democrats United, the San Fernando Valley Democratic Council, and the Heart of LA Democratic Club, alongside labor groups including Teamsters Joint Council 42 and ILWU locals, as well as law enforcement associations. He has also picked up support from elected officials including State Senators Susan Rubio, Josh Becker, and Henry Stern, Congressmember Julia Brownley, and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
National Democrats and Local Officials Line Up
Goldsmith's endorsement roster extends well beyond the district itself, with former President Bill Clinton's wife and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Senator Barbara Boxer, former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and South Bend mayor turned national Democrat Pete Buttigieg all endorsing his campaign. Advocacy groups including Climate Action California, California EnviroVoters, Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords, Democrats for Israel Los Angeles, and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus have also lined up behind him.
Locally, Goldsmith has received endorsements from officials in Beverly Hills, Calabasas, El Segundo, Agoura Hills, Redondo Beach, and Santa Monica, reflecting an effort to build support across the district's varied Westside and South Bay communities. Goldsmith previously competed in the crowded ten-candidate primary race.
A Campaign Already Marked by Controversy
The rivalry between Goldsmith and Erickson has carried an edge since the primary season. In March, West Hollywood Public Safety Commissioner Tod Hallman filed a complaint with the city attorney alleging that Erickson had threatened to remove him from his commission seat if Hallman backed an opposing city council candidate, according to Hoodline's earlier reporting. Goldsmith has said he plans to keep working with Santa Monica Democrats as the race heads toward November.
Whoever wins in November will represent one of the state's largest legislative constituencies. California state Senate districts have more than 900,000 constituents, according to Ballotpedia, giving the winner of Senate District 24 a large constituent base. With Election Day set for November 3, both campaigns are expected to keep courting endorsements and fundraising dollars across the district's Westside and South Bay communities in the weeks ahead.
