Mayor Caroline Torosis Sought Reelection

The incumbent Mayor of Santa Monica has launched her campaign to retain her seat in the upcoming city election.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Remote Work

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an arched municipal building facade, evoking the institutional stability of local government. — Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis has officially launched her reelection campaign, focusing on long-term equitable growth and affordable housing expansion. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Is your local community headed in the right direction regarding housing affordability and public safety?

Incumbent Mayor Caroline Torosis has officially announced her bid for reelection in Santa Monica. She is running on a platform focused on transitioning the city from post-pandemic recovery into long-term equitable growth.

Why it matters

The race centers on the city's future direction, with Torosis emphasizing an in-house system of care for residents and the expansion of affordable housing on key city-owned land.

Recent city reporting shows a 12.5% decrease in violent crime across Santa Monica compared to the prior period. The ultimate efficacy of the city's predictive homelessness pilot with the UCLA California Policy Lab is still being evaluated.

The players

Caroline Torosis

She is the incumbent Mayor of Santa Monica who previously served on the Rent Control Board and held a fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Holly Mitchell

She is a County Supervisor who previously employed Caroline Torosis.

UCLA California Policy Lab

This research institution partnered with the city to implement a predictive analytic pilot program aimed at preventing homelessness.

The details

Torosis plans to bolster the local economy by leveraging global events like the FIFA World Cup to increase traffic to the Third Street Promenade. Her housing development strategy includes building new affordable units on city-owned sites located at Fourth Street, Fifth Street, and Bergamot Station.

Caroline Torosis currently serves as the incumbent Mayor of Santa Monica.

Market Landscape

The city plans to utilize the FIFA World Cup to activate the Third Street Promenade. This approach positions Santa Monica to capitalize on massive international tourism events to drive local economic recovery.

Residents may see shifts in local housing availability as the city moves forward with development plans at Fourth Street, Fifth Street, and Bergamot Station. The mayoral election outcome will determine whether these city-owned land projects continue under the current administrative priority.

The takeaway

Voters will soon decide if the current mayoral administration’s focus on predictive analytics and public land development remains the preferred path for the city. Residents should monitor local ballot information to understand how these proposed projects may influence neighborhood development and city services.