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WESTSIDE - They say campaign dollars are the "Mother's Milk" of politics, especially when a longtime incumbent is retiring and ten aspirants want the job!
In the highly competitive and coveted senate seat that that stretches along the western coast of Los Angeles County, political consultant and start-up entrepreneur Brian Goldsmith of Beverly Hills along with small business owner and former LA City Planning Commissioner Mike Newhouse of Venice are leading the field when it comes to initial fundraising efforts.
In the case of Goldsmith, according to current filings has amassed $1,051,887.01 with expenses of $135,445.69 and unpaid expenses of $32,977.12.
In a 184-page report that includes donations of $11,800 each from Rick & Tina Caruso, the billionaire developer from the Palisades and former police commissioner that was unsuccessful in his 2022 bid for mayor of Los Angeles. Ironically, Caruso spent roughly $100 million dollars of his own personal funds in that loss to Karen Bass. That figure is only eclipsed by GOP gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman who was defeated for California Governor by Jerry Brown in 2010. Whitman at the time was the CEO of e-Bay while Brown was making an unprecedented political comeback for a third term.
Caruso is expected to challenge Bass again in 2026.
According to campaign finance reports, Newhouse has raised the second-highest total among all the current contenders.
Newhouse has now accumulated some $265,000 from more than 300 donors signaling strong grass roots support in the district for what he describes his campaign as a "pro-growth, pro-housing, pro-public safety and pro-environmental" message. Newhouse has promoted himself on the campaign trail as the "common sense candidate" that offers a moderate point of view.
"Our campaign is powered by real people who are ready to see California get back on track and make real progress," offered the Venice community advocate, homeowner, husband and father.
Newhouse believes his set of solutions for housing, homelessness, infrastructure, small business, job creation and public safety best reflect the values of a California on the rebound.
Newhouse has been endorsed by Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Josh Lowenthal (D) of Long Beach.
A father of two teen sons, Newhouse is an attorney in practice with his wife Ruthie and has a long history of civic involvement as a former two-time president of the Venice Neighborhood Council. Newhouse previously ran for the LA City Council in 2022 and is an executive board member of the West Los Angeles Democrats.
Brian Goldsmith, 42, is a resident of Beverly Hills and is married with two children.
A life-long Democrat, the Goldsmith family has long roots in his community dating back for decades.
An award-winning journalist and political consultant, Goldsmith produced interviews for Katie Couric and worked for several publications and magazines such as POLITICO and The Atlantic. A graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School, Goldsmith founded Kona Media which advises Democratic campaigns as well as non-profits and corporate clients.
Goldsmith also served as an aide to former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D) of Missouri.
Goldsmith is seeking elective office for the first time.
The top two vote‑getters in the June 2026 primary will advance to the general election in November 2026 to succeed the term-limited Ben Allen.
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-two-year resident of the Venice neighborhood and covers the political scene as it relates to Venice and the Westside. A former legislative aide to two members of the New Jersey General Assembly, Antonicello also served as an aide to the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, now known as the Bergen County Board of Commissioners, the state's largest county. He will be covering the race in California's 24th senate district. Have a take or a tip? Contact him at [email protected])
