Santa Monica Dems Back Goldsmith After Fiery State Senate Debate

SANTA MONICA, CA — Brian Goldsmith won the Santa Monica Democratic Club's endorsement Wednesday night after a spirited debate with West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson that exposed sharp differences over housing, homelessness, public safety and money in politics.

Goldsmith received 139 votes, or 60 percent, to Erickson's 85 votes, or 36 percent, comfortably clearing the 55 percent required for an endorsement. Nine members, or 4 percent, voted for no endorsement, while two abstained.

The result marked a dramatic turnaround for Goldsmith inside the influential local Democratic organization. Last September, the club overwhelmingly endorsed Santa Monica College Board member Sion Roy in the SD24 race, giving Roy 77 percent of the vote while Goldsmith received a single vote.

Roy did not advance from the June primary, leaving Goldsmith and Erickson as the two Democrats seeking the club's endorsement at Wednesday's head-to-head debate at the Church in Ocean Park. The sprawling 24th Senate District stretches from the Westside through much of the South Bay, including Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The candidates repeatedly clashed over their experience, housing policy, homelessness, Proposition 36 and campaign financing. Goldsmith portrayed himself as an alternative to Sacramento's political establishment, pointing to his experience as a journalist and small business owner.

"I have the experience of being an award-winning journalist who knows how to ask hard questions, how to challenge the conventional wisdom, how to hold people in power accountable," Goldsmith said.

Erickson countered that his experience in elected office was precisely what qualified him for Sacramento.

"I really respect the work that my opponent has done as a respected journalist," Erickson said. "And while he is asking questions, I actually have been working with the answers for quite some time as a council member."

Candidates Clash Over Policy, Money

Some of the sharpest disagreements came over housing and renter protections. Erickson called for overturning the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and Ellis Act and expanding rent control. Goldsmith said he would defend existing protections and was open to modernizing Costa-Hawkins but would not promise its repeal.

The candidates also split over Proposition 36, the 2024 ballot measure that increased penalties for certain drug and theft offenses.

"I supported Prop 36. It's a big difference between John and me," Goldsmith said, arguing that Sacramento subsequently failed to provide enough money for treatment programs.

Erickson said he opposed the measure and criticized what he described as the fear-driven campaign surrounding it.

The debate became more personal over campaign spending. Erickson criticized Goldsmith's ability to put substantial personal money into his campaign while describing himself as a renter who cashed out his 401(k) to help finance his run.

Goldsmith responded that he was "putting my money where my mouth is" and asked voters to judge him by his career and record rather than his family's wealth.

Parcel Tax Falls Short

Club members also considered Santa Monica's five local ballot measures, with four securing endorsements. Measure ES, a proposed $495 annual parcel tax expected to generate about $12 million a year for public schools, failed to win the club's backing despite receiving majority support.

The measure received 96 yes votes, or 52%, while 80 members, or 44%, voted no and seven, or 4%, voted for no endorsement. Eight abstained.

Mayor Caroline Torosis argued that ES would provide schools with a permanent, reliable source of funding as the city's longstanding funding agreement with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District approaches expiration.

Opponents argued that the measure shifts an existing city commitment onto Santa Monica property owners and questioned why the money would support a district that also serves Malibu when Malibu property owners would not pay the tax.

Club President Jon Katz later told the Santa Monica Lookout that the result was partly an organizing contest, saying supporters "didn't have their voters there."

The club endorsed all four remaining measures: Measure GG, involving changes to the city's rent control and eviction laws, with 60%; Measure RR, involving protections against eviction for relatively small amounts of unpaid rent, with 64%; Measure VV, extending eviction protections to tenants of certain single-family homes and condominiums, with 59%; and Measure TT, involving the city's transient occupancy tax during designated major events, with 62%.

After the results were announced, Goldsmith thanked members and acknowledged the club's overwhelming support for Roy earlier in the campaign.

"Santa Monica in so many ways is the heart of our district," Goldsmith said. "I know you all went all out for our friend Sion Roy in round one, and I respect him so much."