Santa Monica Democratic Club

05/12/2026

Phonebanking opportunities for Ben Allen:
Wed, May 13, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT
Thu, May 14, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT
Tue, May 19, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT
Wed, May 20, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT
Thu, May 21, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT
Tue, May 26, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT
Wed, May 27, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT
Thu, May 28, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT

JOIN US TO GOTV before the primary! As the East Bay Times said: "Few statewide elections stand to matter more this year than the race for insurance commissioner — the primary official tasked with stemming a wildfire-stoked home insurance crisis that has sent rates soaring across California." Now m...

05/05/2026

Ballots have dropped, and so has our mailer! Did you receive one??

04/28/2026

At our May 27 meeting, we will consider one final endorsement for the primary ballot: LA County Measure ER, a half-cent sales tax that preserves essential healthcare services threatened by federal cuts.

If you oppose this measure or know a Democrat who does, please email the Club: [email protected] We want to be sure that both sides of this measure have equal opportunity to present.

04/24/2026

ICYMI: All of our 2026 primary endorsements in one graphic!

Our official primary guide is in the mail and due in mailboxes over the next few days...

04/13/2026

Next Wednesday, April 22, marks the 56th anniversary of Earth Day 🌎, and at this critical moment for climate policy, our Club will be hosting a timely and urgent conversation on environmental justice.

Join us for a special panel on how the Trump Administration’s anti-climate agenda is impacting frontline and marginalized communities, both nationally and here in Santa Monica. The conversation will be moderated by Santa Monica City Councilmember and environmental attorney Ellis Raskin.

We will be joined by:
- Loraine Lundquist, Clean Air Consultant
- Cris Gutierrez, Co-Founder/Advisor of Climate Action Santa Monica
- Bob Ramirez, President of the Kuruvungna Springs Foundation
- Alison Hahm, Staff Attorney at National Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

We are also pleased to welcome Jake Levine, candidate for U.S. House in CA32 and former Senior Director for Climate and Energy on President Biden’s National Security Council, who will join the evening’s conversation. Please note: SMDC does not make endorsements in this congressional district.

And, we will hold our annual SMDC Executive Board election!

📅 Date: April 22, 2026
🕡 Time: Doors Open 6:30pm, Program Start 7:00pm
📍 Location: The Church In Ocean Park (235 Hill Street) AND On Zoom
✍️ RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/rtV4oszfNjiSxtQo8

Club Business: Annual Executive Board Election

Pursuant to our bylaws, notice is hereby given that the annual election of the Santa Monica Democratic Club Executive Board will take place at the April 22 Membership Meeting.

The filing deadline has now passed, and we are pleased to report that 12 eligible members have filed for the 12 available elected positions. As a result, the election is uncontested.

In accordance with our bylaws, the election will still proceed at the meeting as scheduled, and each candidate will be given an opportunity to address the membership prior to the vote. Voting members in good standing present at the meeting will retain all voting rights provided under the bylaws and meeting rules. Any request regarding the method of voting may be made at the meeting in accordance with the Club’s bylaws and applicable parliamentary procedure.

The full candidate list is below for your advance review:

President: Jon Katz
Vice President Political Action: Sean Kolodji
Vice President Membership: Michael Soloff
Vice President Programs: Kay Ambriz
Vice President Communications: Philip Nazzal
Vice President Diversity & Inclusion: Keith Coleman
Vice President Legislative: Isabel Storey
Treasurer: Marcy Lebovitz
Recording Secretary: Lynn Cervini
At Large Members: Patricia Hoffman, Susan Sheu, Andrew Sprung

04/07/2026

04/07/2026

🗳️ Judicial Endorsement Results
Per our Club Bylaws, contested endorsements require 55% support.
Endorsed candidates are attached in the photo album and marked "E" below.

Office #2 (52 votes cast, no abstentions)
Robert Draper - 0 votes (0%)
Tal Valbuena - 44 votes (85%) E
No Endorsement - 8 votes (15%)

Office #14 (46 votes cast, plus 6 abstentions)
Angie Christides - 26 votes (57%) E
Irene Lee - 14 votes (30%)
No Endorsement - 6 votes (13%)

Office #64 (50 votes cast, plus 2 abstentions)
Rhonda Haymon - 4 votes (8%)
Maria Ghobadi - 45 votes (90%) E
No Endorsement - 1 vote (2%)

Office #65 ROUND ONE (45 votes cast, plus 7 abstentions)
Justin Clayton - 19 votes (42%)
Anna Slotky Reitano - 11 votes (24%)
Chellei Jimenez - 5 votes (11%)
No Endorsement - 1 vote (2%)
Result = Clayton and Reitano advance to Round Two; Jimenez eliminated.

Office #65 ROUND TWO (42 votes cast, plus 1 abstention)
Justin Clayton - 23 votes (54.76%)
Anna Slotky Reitano - 14 votes (33%)
No Endorsement - 5 votes (12%)
Result = Per SMDC Bylaws, endorsement requires that a candidate "receive votes of at least fifty-five percent (55%)." Accordingly, the Club did not reach consensus in this race.

Office #66 (52 votes cast, no abstentions)
Ben Forer - 48 votes (92%)
[write-in vote]: Cheryl Turner - 1 vote (2%)
No Endorsement - 3 votes (6%)

Office #81 (52 votes cast, no abstentions)
David Walgren - 47 votes (90%) E
No Endorsement - 5 votes (10%)

Office #87 (44 votes cast, plus 8 abstentions)
Sharee Sanders Gordon - 13 votes (30%)
David Dejute - 21 votes (48%)
No Endorsement - 10 votes (23%)
Result = The Club did not reach consensus in this race.

Office #116 (51 votes cast, plus 1 abstention)
Paul Thompson - 40 votes (78%) E
[write-in vote]: Pat Connolly - 1 vote (2%)
No Endorsement - 10 votes (20%)

Office #131 (48 votes cast, plus 4 abstentions)
David Ross - 13 votes (27%)
Donna Tryfman - 21 votes (44%)
No Endorsement - 14 votes (29%)
Result = The Club did not reach consensus in this race.

Office #176 (52 votes cast, no abstentions)
Zachary Smith - 46 votes (88%) E
No Endorsement - 6 votes (12%)

Office #181 (52 votes cast, no abstentions)
Ryan Dibble - 50 votes (96%) E
No Endorsement - 2 votes (4%)

03/26/2026

Congratulations to all of our endorsees for the 2026 California Primary on June 2!

03/23/2026

SMDC Executive Board Recommendations
Lieutenant Governor: Michael Tubbs
Insurance Commissioner: Ben Allen
Superintendent: Nichelle Henderson
Congress CD36: Rep. Ted Lieu
Assembly AD51: Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur
LA County Sheriff: Robert Luna
No consensus was reached in the races for Governor or Board of Equalization.
The Membership has the final say, not the board! Join us on Wednesday night to vote on our Club endorsements.

📅 Date: March 25, 2026
🕡 Time: Doors Open 6:30pm, Program Start 7:00pm
📍 Location: Zoom only
✍️ RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/adTS6WVW1BYLrBcq9

⚠️ Important PSA: Steps to Get a Ballot
Some members have reached out about our voting process. To receive a ballot to vote on our primary endorsements, you must complete both of these steps before the meeting:

You must have been a member in good standing for 30 days.
(2025 members can still renew now.)

RSVP for the meeting by completing this form: https://forms.gle/adTS6WVW1BYLrBcq9
(You only need to do this once per voting member.)
(Double check that your email address is spelled correctly.)

✍️ You will receive the ballot at the email address you provide, so be sure you have access to that account during the meeting.
❗ You will not receive a ballot unless BOTH steps are completed.

UPDATE: To allow enough time for our full candidate interview process, Judicial Endorsements will now be considered at a separate Special Meeting on Zoom on April 6 at 7:00pm. No additional RSVP is required; your response for the March 25 meeting will carry over.