For immediate release
Us invites candidates to apply for its 2026 endorsement
Santa Monica, CA — August 28, 2026 — Us (newpublicservice.com) is announcing the beginning of its endorsement process for the 2026 City of Santa Monica and SMMUSD elections.
For which elections is Us making endorsements in 2026?
Us will consider endorsements for the following elections:
- Santa Monica City Council
- SMMUSD Board
- Santa Monica Rent Control Board
- Santa Monica College Board
How is eligibility determined?
To be eligible for endorsement, a candidate must first sign the Pledge for a New Public Service (“the Pledge”), a one-line commitment that reads, “After 10 years in elected office, I will never run again.” The Pledge includes time already served in any elected public office.
Who votes?
Endorsements are determined exclusively by the vote of dues-paying members of Us. The leadership of Us has no role in endorsement decisions, and there are no “steering committees” or other mechanisms for pre-judging or overruling endorsements.
The endorsement voting period will begin on September 17 and end on September 21. Residents of Santa Monica and Malibu can receive an endorsement ballot by signing up for a dues-paying membership anytime before the start of the voting period.
To guard against the practice of “packing” the membership just prior to the vote, dues-paying members receive one (1) voting credit for each month of paid membership, up to a limit of twelve (12) voting credits. Annual subscribers receive all twelve credits up-front. Monthly subscribers accrue one credit each month. Voting credits belonging to dues-paying members never expire.
How do candidates apply?
Candidates interested in the Us endorsement must first sign the Pledge. Then, candidates can apply for the endorsement here. The application deadline is 11:59pm PDT on Sunday, September 13.
Candidates who have not signed the Pledge by the application deadline will be deemed to have rejected the Pledge.
About Us
Us (newpublicservice.com) is building a political organization that puts voters first. We bring people together to make their communities better, with digital tools and offline mobilizations, and we work to put true public servants in elected office. Our fight is against career politicians who perpetuate gerontocracy, tolerate anti-voter behavior like SMS spam, and kick the can on the challenges facing California.
Us is free to join, with paid memberships priced at $5 per month. Membership dues fund modern campaigns on behalf of citizen candidates, tools to help winners govern effectively, and year-round organizing to build lasting success. Endorsements are decided exclusively by paid members – no “steering committees,” and no backroom deals. To be considered for endorsement, a candidate must sign the Pledge for a New Public Service, which commits them to a lifetime limit on their years in elected office.
Us was founded in 2026 in Santa Monica. By 2028, we will operate across Los Angeles County, and by 2030, we intend to be active in elections up and down the state. Us makes independent expenditures in California elections. We are not affiliated with, nor do we coordinate with, any candidate or candidate committee.