As we approach Election Day in November 2026, Los Angeles residents have an opportunity to vote in community leaders from City Hall to Sacramento who will be leaders during environmental disasters and champion affordability. There are five critical races to watch out for and one local ballot measure we will be voting on.
In this guide:
- Paul Seo running for election in State Assembly 66Â
- Brian Goldsmith running for election in State Senate 24
- Sarah Rascón running for election in State Senate 26
- Nithya Raman running for election in Mayor for the City of Los Angeles
- Randall Winston for Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees Seat No. 6
- Los Angeles Charter Amendment PRK
Why the 2026 Election Matters for Los Angeles
Los Angeles families are living with the climate crisis right now. The 2025 wildfires and this year’s Lineage warehouse fire in Boyle Heights showed how quickly a disaster can become a public health emergency, while landslides, coastal erosion, and refinery malfunctions threaten South Bay neighborhoods. Air pollution is a daily burden, too: the American Lung Association’s 2026 State of the Air report ranked Los Angeles County third in the nation for ozone pollution. And as insurance rates climb after each disaster, more families are struggling to afford to stay in the communities they call home. The leaders elected this November will decide how Los Angeles rebuilds, how it protects neighborhoods from the next disaster, and how it keeps the city affordable.
State Assembly District 66: Paul Seo
| Covers | Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Gardena, Lomita, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, Harbor City, and Harbor Gateway |
|---|---|
| EnviroVoters endorses | Paul Seo (D), Mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes and Deputy Attorney General |
| Also on the ballot | Sara Deen (D), Palos Verdes school board president |
| Why it matters | An open seat in a South Bay district facing landslides, coastal erosion, and refinery malfunctions. |
Paul Seo is the right candidate to represent the South Bay. The South Bay has been hit with severe landslides, unprecedented coastal erosion, and a series of toxic refinery malfunctions, and it will continue to face these threats as El Niño approaches. Seo, the mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes and a former Deputy Attorney General who helped prosecute the companies behind the 2021 Huntington Beach oil spill, is running to block new offshore drilling.
State Senate District 24: Brian Goldsmith
| Covers | The Westside and coast, including Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and the South Bay beach cities |
|---|---|
| EnviroVoters endorses | Brian Goldsmith (D), former journalist and entrepreneur |
| Also on the ballot | John Erickson (D) |
| Why it matters | An open seat representing communities still rebuilding from the Palisades Fire and facing rising insurance costs. |
Brian Goldsmith is the best candidate for State Senate District 24. This is a district that was devastated by the Palisades Fire last year and is still recovering as residents navigate insurance and rebuilding. The district deserves a leader in Sacramento who will prioritize rebuilding from the devastating wildfires, address insurance rate hikes, and protect the community from further costly environmental disasters.
State Senate District 26: Sarah Rascón
| Covers | Eastside and central Los Angeles, including Boyle Heights, East LA, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Los Feliz, Koreatown, Hollywood, and the city of Vernon |
|---|---|
| EnviroVoters endorses | Sarah Rascón (D), environmental advocate raised in El Sereno |
| Also on the ballot | Sara Hernandez (D), Los Angeles Community College District trustee |
| Why it matters | An open seat covering the neighborhoods hit hardest by this year's Lineage warehouse fire. |
Sarah Rascón is the best candidate for State Senate District 26. Born and raised in the district, she understands firsthand what her community needs, and she has brought money to her community by securing federal funding for an environmental protection ranger program at Elephant Hill in El Sereno. Rascón also launched environmental and tribal equity initiatives that increased representation for historically underrepresented groups, and so much more. This district has experienced environmental disasters like the Lineage Fire in Boyle Heights, where residents experienced severe headaches and respiratory issues for months, which is why it’s important to elect proven climate champions.
Mayor for the City of Los Angeles: Nithya Raman
| Covers | City of Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| EnviroVoters endorses | Nithya Raman (D), Los Angeles City Councilmember, District 4 |
| Also on the ballot | Karen Bass (D), incumbent |
| Why it matters | The next mayor will steer wildfire rebuilding and the city's response to future disasters, and will decide how fast LA cuts pollution from buildings and transportation. |
Nithya Raman is the best candidate for Mayor, with a proven track record on the LA City Council of prioritizing public health and environmental issues facing the city of Los Angeles, including building decarbonization, curtailing neighborhood oil drilling, expanding zero-emission transportation, and so much more. It’s a critical time in Los Angeles as the city continues to face significant environmental challenges, from last year’s LA wildfires to air pollution. Nithya has proven herself a climate and environmental champion as a City Councilmember, and we’re confident she will continue to advance her initiatives as Mayor.
Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees Seat No. 6: Randall Winston
| Covers | The Los Angeles Community College District's nine colleges |
|---|---|
| LALCV endorses | Randall Winston, climate policy leader and educator |
| Also on the ballot | Gabriel Buelna and Tonia Arey |
| Why it matters | The board oversees a $5.3 billion bond program that will shape campus energy, water use, and clean energy job training. |
Randall Winston brings a proven record of environmental and climate policy leadership, having shaped historic climate policy at both the state and city levels, and he now trains the next generation of climate and sustainability leaders. The stakes are high: LACCD is the nation’s largest community college district, with nine campuses and a $5.3 billion bond program that will determine how Los Angeles builds, powers, and conserves water on its campuses, and who gets trained for the clean energy workforce. Winston plans to use that opportunity to push strong green building standards and expand environmental job pathways, with environmental justice at the center of decision-making. That mix of policy experience and a workforce-focused vision is why EnviroVoters’ local league for Los Angeles, the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters (LALCV) endorsed him.
Los Angeles Charter Amendment PRK
| Who votes | City of Los Angeles voters |
|---|---|
| LALCV position | Yes |
| What a yes vote does | Doubles dedicated city parks funding without a new tax |
| Why it matters | Parks provide shade, cleaner air, and relief from extreme heat, and many neighborhoods have gone without well-maintained green space. |
Measure PRK is a charter amendment that will double dedicated funding for the city’s parks without imposing any new tax. Decades of chronic underfunding have left LA with staffing shortages, deteriorating facilities, fewer recreation programs, and deep inequities in who has access to quality green space. Parks are essential environmental infrastructure that provide shade, cleaner air, and relief from extreme heat, and PRK would ensure they receive reliable investment for years to come. By helping every neighborhood, especially those historically shortchanged, get safe, well-maintained parks, PRK will improve health, resilience, and quality of life across Los Angeles.
How to Vote in Los Angeles in 2026
Voting in California is easier than you might think, and you have more time and more options than you probably realize. Here’s how to make your voice heard in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Every active registered voter in California is automatically mailed a ballot, so you can vote from your kitchen table, drop it in a box on your way to work, or vote in person.
- Check that you’re registered. Confirm your registration and make sure your address is current at the California Secretary of State’s voter status page. The deadline to register online or by mail is October 19, 2026. But even if you miss that date, you can still register same-day and vote in person on Election Day.
- Get your ballot. Ballots are mailed to every active registered voter between Tuesday October 6 and Friday October 9. Fill yours out at home, on your own time. Do your research to make sure you’re picking the best candidates—resources like EnviroVoters’ voter guide can be a great place to start! We recommend talking to friends and family about their voting plans and researching together.
- Return it your way. Mail it back (the state says it must be postmarked by November 3, but we recommend putting it in the mail before October 31 to be safe), drop it at an official ballot drop box, or hand it in at any voting location. Prefer to vote in person? Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, and you can find your polling place here.
However you choose to vote, your ballot is your power to protect clean air, safe water, and an affordable future for Los Angeles.
What else is on your ballot?
We’ve spotlighted our five key races in Los Angeles above, but your ballot will have plenty more on it—statewide offices, local seats, and ballot measures that all shape the climate future of your community. To see every candidate we’ve endorsed statewide and in your area, check out our EnviroVoters Endorsements page.Â