Erickson, Goldsmith advance to November general for California Senate District 24
The California state flag is raised. Democrats John Erickson and Brian Goldsmith will proceed to the November general election for California State Senate District 24, which encompasses UCLA’s campus and surrounding communities. (Kai Dizon/Assistant Photo editor)
By Rori Anderson
June 13, 2026 11:15 a.m.
Democrats John Erickson and Brian Goldsmith will proceed to the November general election for California State Senate District 24, which encompasses UCLA’s campus and surrounding communities.
Erickson and Goldsmith received 20.5% and 18.3% of the vote, respectively, in the June 2 primary election. Eight other candidates ran for the two spots on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The top two candidates who received the most votes in the primary, regardless of party affiliation, moved on to the general election. The incumbent, Democrat Ben Allen, has reached his term limit and is running for state insurance commissioner.
Erickson – a West Hollywood city councilmember – plans to address issues surrounding housing, affordability, healthcare and climate, according to his campaign website. His platform also focuses on making insurance affordable, his website said.
“I looked around and saw everyone from my community, the LGBTQ community to renters, to families, to actors, to students, and one thing was very visibly clear – everyone was pretty much struggling,” Erickson said in an interview with the Daily Bruin. “How could California, a state that is the fourth largest economy in the world – that is the best place to live – let this happen?”
Erickson said in an emailed statement he plans to continue campaigning on making California more safe and affordable leading up to the November election.
Goldsmith, a media consultant, said he disagrees with Republicans’ use of California as an example of failed policies on crime, homelessness, unaffordability and public education, adding that he believes these issues need to be addressed.
Goldsmith said in a Thursday press release he plans to make California more affordable for families and small businesses.
“The state of California can, at the very least, model a kind of politics that’s focused less on profiting off division and more on finding common ground across difference and trying to get important things accomplished,” he said.
Contributing reports by Rune Long, Daily Bruin contributor.
