--- [ NEIGHBORHOOD ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=327) # Former Foes Unite Behind Brian Goldsmith in SD 24 Race Written by Nick Antonicello on July 16 2026. ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/f0/056d-f0cfe619.jpg) [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) [Comments](#disqus_thread) WESTSIDE - In an attempt to consolidate a large bloc of votes behind his post primary efforts, moderate Democrat Brian Goldsmith added to his long list of endorsements by securing the support of former rivals Eric Alegria and Mike Newhouse. Goldsmith is facing West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson in this consolidated runoff to succeed retiring incumbent Ben Allen of Santa Monica who is running for California Insurance Commissioner. Allen has endorsed Goldsmith as his successor in Sacramento. Goldsmith announced the enthusiastic endorsement of Palos Verdes Peninsula School Board Member and former Rancho Palos Verdes City Councilmember Eric Alegria. With Alegria’s backing, Goldsmith has now earned the support of three former challengers, including former Los Angeles Planning Commission member Mike Newhouse and community advocate Ellen Evans. This rapid consolidation serves as a testament to Goldsmith’s ability to build a broad, diverse coalition that can cut through the political noise in Sacramento and secure tangible results for residents of this affluent and coastal legislative district that stretches from the South Bay, the Beach Cities and due north to Malibu and the Pacific Palisades according to his campaign. Alegria released the following statement: *“Throughout my years of public service as a School Board Member, City Councilmember, and Mayor, I have learned that meaningful progress comes from bringing people together, listening to our communities, and focusing on solutions rather than division.* *That belief guided my campaign for State Senate, and it is why I believe Brian Goldsmith is the right leader for Senate District 24. At a time when our communities need unity and thoughtful leadership, Brian brings the integrity and collaborative approach necessary to deliver results.* *I know the importance of leaders who listen, build partnerships, and follow through. Brian Goldsmith has demonstrated those qualities, and I am proud to offer him my full support for State Senate.”* Goldsmith responded in kind: “I am deeply honored to receive Eric’s endorsement. He has a proven record of delivering under pressure—whether navigating environmental crises, addressing local crime, or protecting thousands of entertainment industry jobs. I look forward to partnering with him and leaning on his deep experience to champion the unique needs of the South Bay." Newhouse also offered a strong endorsement of this fellow, "common sense" Democrat. \\ "I also believe that providing housing and services to save people from a life, and death, on the streets is not inconsistent with enforcing anti-camping laws that we can fully support, and public safety while standing up for our California values and the most vulnerable amongst us. Having gotten to know Brian Goldsmith over the last 14 months, he is a common sense, independent-minded and pragmatic leader who shares that vision and will work tirelessly to ensure California is a place where working families can afford to live and thrive. I’m proud to endorse him to be our next State Senator," offered the Venice homeowner, husband and father of two teenage sons. Newhouse is an attorney by profession, small business owner and longtime Los Angeles Neighborhood Council advocate. Goldsmith also embraced his newfound support by Alegria. \\ "Eric is an accomplished executive, educator, and South Bay policymaker. Currently serving on the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District and as COO of the Wellness Equity Alliance, he possesses nearly twenty years of experience expanding healthcare access for underserved communities. His extensive public service includes tenure on the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, where he successfully navigated the devastating Portuguese Bend Landslides, led the initiative to secure the city's ranking as the fourth safest in the state, and slashed small business license taxes to zero during the pandemic. A California Film Commissioner, small business owner, and holder of multiple advanced degrees from USC, LMU, and CGU, he combines deep analytical policy expertise with a pragmatic, independent approach to governance focused on lowering costs, protecting public safety, and defending the local economy," noted the candidate. These latest endorsements could certainly sway the electoral math in Goldsmith's favor when you review the June 2nd Primary tallies. While West Hollywood Councilmember Erickson led the fragmented field of 10 with 62,397, Goldsmith was right behind with 55,627. The two Republicans, G. Rick Marshall (53,350) and Kristina Irwin (42,939) finished third and fourth respectively with Santa Monica College Trustee Dr. Sion Roy rounding out the top five finishers with 41,956 votes. With Newhouse finishing 6th with 13,824, Alegria 7th with 12,412 and Evans ninth with 9,024, a solid foundation of new support is brewing in favor of Goldsmith as he continues to reach out and construct a broad-based coalition of support both geographically and politically speaking. That said, Roy's endorsement could be crucial as well. He did tally nearly 42,000 votes (13.8%), and many of his supporters came from Santa Monica and the healthcare community, where he had built support as a practicing physician. Observers say his supporters are more ideologically aligned with Erickson, given both candidates' Democratic affiliations and support from progressive and labor constituencies during the primary, although that does not necessarily mean Roy would endorse Erickson if he chose to endorse anyone at all. If Roy does make an endorsement in the campaign, it could matter most in Santa Monica, Malibu, and portions of the Westside where he performed relatively well as he was the officially endorsed candidate of the California Democratic Party. Running for the first time, Goldsmith has earned numerous endorsements from a broad spectrum of prominent Democratic officials, organizations, and community leaders including: Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton; Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi; Senator Barbara Boxer (ret.); Senator Henry Stern (SD-27); Senator Josh Becker (SD-13); Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (AD-46); Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (AD-51); Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (AD-42); Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (AD-27); former US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg; Bob Hertzberg, former California State Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker; and Fran Pavley, former California State Senator and Assemblymember. Goldsmith is a small business owner, award-winning journalist, and Democratic consultant. Through his business, he has advised candidates, nonprofits, and companies, and helped elect several prominent Democratic members of Congress. Brian also founded Scriber, a text-based subscription service, and co-founded Junction, an equity crowdfunding business. A graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School. Goldsmith is a Los Angeles native, and he and his wife Claire, an educator, reside in Beverly Hills with their two young children, Eliza and Teddy. The 24th Senate Legislative district includes the cities of Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, El Segundo, Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Lomita, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Santa Monica, Torrance, West Hollywood, and Westlake Village; the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Bel Air, Beverly Grove, Brentwood, Fairfax, Holmby Hills, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Little Holmby, Mid City West, Pacific Palisades, Playa del Rey, Sunset Hills, Venice, Westwood, and Westwood Village; and the unincorporated Los Angeles County communities of the Santa Monica Mountains and Marina Del Rey. *(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-three-year resident of the Westside and is a regular contributor to City Watch LA and is covering the race for this open senate seat. A former legislative aide to the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly, he can be reached via e-mail at )* [![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/) ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Phone [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) ### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022… [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) ### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. 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