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[ POLITICS ](https://ezmail.mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=396)
# Political Seats Are Up For Grabs…Control Hangs In The Balance
Written by Tim Deegan.
January 19 2026
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DEEGAN On LA - Is a change for the better on the horizon or will it be “meet the new boss…same as the old boss”? Nationally, Democrats have a chance of gaining control of Congress. Sacramento, barring a shock, should remain strongly blue. Locally, Democratic Socialists may be able to increase their seat count in the City Council.
All of these results could help turn the page to politics that are more hopeful and open-ended than the political stasis of today.
Increasing the Socialist wedge at City Hall may be the most significant political result. The DSA-LA (Democratic Socialists of America-Los Angeles) is again endorsing a couple of city council candidates that, if they win and the incumbent DSA members are reelected, could expand the DSA grip at City Hall to 40% of the seats.
Key candidates at the state and local levels are:
**Sacramento** - for Governor
• Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, and former attorney general of California.
• Eric Swalwell, U.S. representative from California's 14th congressional district, and candidate for president in 2020.
• Katie Porter, former U.S. representative from California's 47th congressional district, and candidate for U.S. Senate.
• Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles (2005–2013) and candidate for governor in 2018.
• Betty Yee, California Democratic Party vice chair (2021–present) and former California State Controller (2015–2023.
[**City Council**](https://ethics.lacity.gov/elections/#S279)[ candidates](https://ethics.lacity.gov/elections/#S279) include:
**CD 1-** Eunisses Hernandez - Democratic Socialist incumbent - being challenged.
**CD 3-** Seat being vacated. A few candidates have expressed interest.
**CD 5-** Katy Yaroslavsky, incumbent, being challenged.
**CD 7-** Monica Rodriguez, incumbent, being challenged**.**
**CD 9 -** Seat being vacated. A few candidates have expressed interest.
**CD 11 -** Traci Park, incumbent, being challenged.
**CD 13 -** Hugo Soto-Martinez - Democratic Socialist incumbent - being challenged.
**CD 15 -** Tim McOsker, incumbent.
The DSA and City Council snapshot right now:
1\. Eunisses Hernandez (CD 1) up for re-election.
2\. Hugo Soto-Martinez (CD 13) up for re-election.
3\. Nithya Raman (CD 4) not up for re-election.
4\. Ysabel J. Jurado (CD 14) not up for re-election.
**5.** Estuardo Mazariegos - newcomer is running in CD 9.
**6.** Faizah Malik - newcomer is running in CD 11.
All Council candidates, and candidate for citywide office of Mayor, Controller and City Attorney, must file no later than February 7.
The Primary Election will be on June 2, and runoff for any candidate that did not win 50% plus 1 on November 3.
***(Tim Deegan** is a longtime civic activist and columnist whose Deegan on LA feature has been a staple of CityWatchLA for over a decade. With a focus on Los Angeles city politics and neighborhood issues, Deegan brings thoughtful analysis and grassroots perspective to every column. His work highlights the voices of local communities and the impact of City Hall decisions on everyday Angelenos. He can be reached at ****.)*
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