Santa Monicans for Renters Rights Makes Their Endorsements: Caroline Torosis and Danny Ivanov for Council and More

Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR) held an in-person only meeting to make its endorsements for the 2026 City Council.

For City Council, SMRR endorsed Mayor Caroline Torosis and Rent Control Board Member Danny Ivanov. While there are three seats on the Council, SMRRs members failed to reach agreement on a third member.

For Rent Control Board, SMRR endorsed former Mayor and longtime SMRR member Sue Himmelrich, Rent Control Board Vice Chair Kurt Gonska, and Heather Thomasson.

For the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, SMRR endorsed Boardmembers Laurie Lieberman and Alicia Mignano along with Robbie Staenberg.

For the SMC college board, SMRR endorsed Sion Roy, Tom Peters and Luis Castanon and that Kera Blades-Snell.

SMRR also endorsed the parcel tax to fund SMMUSD schools in Santa Monica and West Hollywood Citycouncilmember John Erickson in the election for State Senate.

Formed in 1978, SMRR is a prominent tenant advocacy organization and political coalition in Santa Monica, California. Created in response to soaring rents during the local real estate boom, SMRR successfully championed the passage of strict municipal rent control laws and has since functioned as a powerful electoral force, consistently endorsing progressive candidates for the City Council, Rent Control Board, and other local offices to protect tenant rights and affordable housing.

About The Author

Damien Newton

Damien is the executive director of the Southern California Streets Initiative which publishes Santa Monica Next, Streetsblog Los Angeles, Streetsblog San Francisco, Streetsblog California and Longbeachize.

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