As progressives across the country mourned the results of the national election, progressives in Santa Monica could take solace that the progressive United Democratic Slate of Dan Hall, Ellis Raskin, Barry Snell, and Natalya Zernitskaya appear to have won a clean sweep in the City Council race winning all four open seats.
From the first drop of results through the current numbers the progressive slate has held a lead and there was little change as new results were added throughout the night.
Hall leads all vote getters with 14,877 votes followed closely by Raskin with 14,870. Rounding out the winners circle are Zernitskaya with 14,113 and Snell with 14,109. Mayor Phil Brock is running fifth with 13,051 votes followed by incumbent Councilmember Oscar de la Torre with 12,096 votes. There is an outside chance as more ballots are counted that Brock could narrow the gap, but so far every ballot drop has seen the lead for the Democratic Slate hold steady.
Assuming the votes hold, the “progressive block” on the Council will hold a 6-1 majority, a shocking change from the 4-3 majority the “Change Slate” councilmembers and Councilmember Lana Negrete held for the past two years. With de la Torre’s defeat, Negrete is in line to become the next Mayor.
It was an election season like no other in Santa Monica. The United Democratic Slate built an early lead in the endorsement game, earning the endorsement of local political groups including Communities for Excellent Public Schools, Santa Monica Democratic Club, Santa Monica Forward, Unite Here! Local 11, and Santa Monicans for Renters Rights. Over the course of the summer, they continued to pick up endorsements even though the race didn’t formally begin until August.
The Safer Santa Monica Slate saw Mayor Phil Brock and Councilmember Oscar de la Torre join forces with a pair of political newcomers John Putnam and Dr. Vivian Roknian. The slate was backed by law enforcement unions, restaurant associations, and a cluster of neighborhood associations.
Rounding out the field were Rent Control Board Chair Ericka Lesley and musician Wade Kelley.
Next will be providing more election news as the day goes on and more votes come in.
