One of the most closely watched races on the Los Angeles June 2, 2026 ballot is playing out right here on the Westside. Three candidates have filed to run for the District 11 seat — incumbent Councilwoman Traci Park, Faizah Malik, and Jeremy Wineberg. For residents of Venice, Mar Vista, Playa del Rey, Westchester, and surrounding neighborhoods, this race will determine who shapes local policy on housing, homelessness, coastal development, and public safety for the next four years.
The District
District 11 includes Venice, Pacific Palisades, Playa del Rey, Westchester, Mar Vista, and parts of Brentwood and Del Rey, making it one of the most prominent council seats on the Westside. The district spans some of the most expensive real estate in Los Angeles alongside communities facing significant pressure for displacement — a tension that sits at the center of this race.
The Incumbent: Traci Park
Park won the seat in a 2022 special election and was reelected in 2024, and now faces her first full-term challenge. She has raised $306,420 to date, making her the second-highest fundraiser in the 2026 race behind Mayor Karen Bass. Her tenure has been defined by an emphasis on encampment enforcement and public safety — a record that supporters credit as responsive to constituent concerns and critics argue has prioritized removal over housing solutions.
The Challengers
Faizah Malik is a managing attorney at Public Counsel, a civil rights and public policy organization. She announced her candidacy, signaling a return to progressive housing policies, and has stated: “We’re facing a housing and homelessness crisis, a climate emergency, and widening inequality. It’s time for leadership that puts people first.”
Malik has been endorsed by DSA-LA and is described as challenging Los Angeles’ most conservative incumbent in Council District 11. Her campaign has focused on affordable housing, tenant protections, and a shift away from enforcement-first approaches to homelessness.
Jeremy Wineberg has also filed to compete in the race. His campaign platform and background are still gaining public visibility as the primary approaches.
Key Issues
The CD11 race reflects broader debates playing out across Los Angeles — the council seat covers a diverse coastal and inland area that has seen ongoing debates over housing, public safety, homelessness, and economic recovery.
For working-class residents, renters, and long-term community members in neighborhoods like Venice and Mar Vista, the stakes are concrete: who gets housed, who gets swept, which development projects move forward, and whose voices shape decisions at City Hall.
The Coastal Zone adds another layer of complexity specific to CD11. Decisions about development permits, public beach access, and environmental protections along the Venice and Playa del Rey coastline fall within this district’s jurisdiction — issues that disproportionately affect lower-income residents who depend on public coastal access.
Key Dates
- Primary Election: June 2, 2026
- Potential Runoff: November 3, 2026
- Results Certification: July 2, 2026
If no candidate receives a majority in the June primary, the top two vote-getters advance to the November runoff.
How to Stay Informed
CD11 voters can research candidate positions, campaign finance filings, and voting records through the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission at ethics.lacity.org. Westside Policy Watch will continue tracking this race as the June primary approaches.
For candidate information and to verify your registration, visit lavote.gov.
