Anti-Establishment Candidates Lead Santa Monica Fundraising
Three candidates have outpaced rivals in fundraising efforts ahead of the November 3 Santa Monica City Council election.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Anti-establishment candidates have surged to the forefront of campaign fundraising in the Santa Monica City Council race. Financial disclosures filed by the September 19 deadline show significant capital mobilization from both individual campaigns and outside groups.
Why it matters
The influx of campaign funding highlights the intense competition for local seats ahead of the November election. These financial tallies reflect the high stakes for the community as groups and individual candidates position themselves to influence city policy.
The political action committee Believe In Santa Monica raised $600,250 and spent $442,694, while candidate Doug Trussler led individual fundraisers with $213,000. These figures were reported in official filings submitted by the September 19 deadline.
The players
Doug Trussler
He is a candidate for the Santa Monica City Council who has secured the highest individual fundraising total in the race.
Believe In Santa Monica
This is a political action committee that has funneled over $600,000 into the current council election cycle.
Caroline Torosis
She is the Mayor of Santa Monica and an active candidate in the ongoing City Council election.
Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights
This is a long-standing local political organization involved in funding and supporting council candidates.
The details
Doug Trussler tops the individual fundraising leaderboard with $213,000, a total that includes $150,000 provided through personal loans. Meanwhile, support for other candidates remains divided, with Lana Negrete raising $101,311 and Ashley Oelsen securing $99,711 from their respective donor bases.
Timeline
September 19, 2026: The campaign financial statement filing period ended.
November 3, 2026: The Santa Monica City Council election will take place.
Market Landscape
This race mirrors the broader trend of increased involvement by outside political action committees in local municipal elections. The substantial spending by groups like Believe In Santa Monica signals a shift toward high-cost campaigns that challenge established organizational influence.
Residents will likely encounter a higher volume of political advertising and mailers in the coming weeks as campaigns spend their remaining war chests. These financial activities indicate which local platforms and interests are receiving the most aggressive backing ahead of the vote.
The takeaway
The heavy reliance on both personal loans and large PAC contributions marks a significant shift in how local Santa Monica campaigns are funded. Voters should consider how these specific funding sources might influence the policy priorities of winning candidates.
What happens next
Candidates have a six-week window to spend their remaining campaign funds before voters head to the polls on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local political funding trends, visit Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Surfsantamonica.
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