Incumbent Hugo Soto-Martínez is up against challengers Colter Carlisle, Dylan Kendall and Rich Sarian.

By Seamus Bozeman
UT Community News, Cal State LA

This story was produced in partnership with Cal State LA’s UT Community News and was published by the LA Public Press.

One of the most diverse districts in Los Angeles, the 13th City Council district spans most of Hollywood to the west, Koreatown to the south, Glassell Park to the east, and Atwater Village to the north. It’s an area that includes more than 250,517 residents, 41% of whom are Latino, according to LA County statistics. 

The district is led by incumbent councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who is up for re-election on June 2 but faces competition from three other candidates. 

In this single race, more than $169,000 has been put into all the campaigns combined, according to the LA City Ethics Commission data. These totals are the most recent tallies as of Dec. 31 2025. Soto-Martinez has raised the most with $109,189 collected.

Hugo Soto-Martínez

Soto-Martínez first won the district in 2022, defeating then-incumbent Mitch O’Farrell, who had held the seat since 2013. A former labor organizer, Soto-Martínez has continually advocated for LA’s status as a Sanctuary City and was behind efforts that led to the adoption of tenant protection measures, according to Soto-Martínez’s campaign website.  

He is the only renter on the City Council, according to his official LA city website. He is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America organization, and its Los Angeles Chapter (DSA-LA). He’s been a big part of efforts within the City Council to expand affordable and interim emergency housing, open new homeless service centers, and invest in disarmed crisis response, according to his campaign website.

But Soto-Martínez has faced criticism from unhoused folks and housing activists for not doing more to curb encampment sweeps and enforcement of 41.18 zones — public areas where people can be cited and removed for sitting, lying or obstructing sidewalk areas.

In March, he cancelled a planned fundraiser after activists called for a boycott and several comedians scheduled to perform, including Hacks star Hannah Einbinder, pulled out. 

Soto-Martínez continues to advocate for Senate Bill 79, even as it faced opposition from other members of the City Council. 

SB 79 was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October and mandated increases in zoning density within a half-mile of major transit hubs in the state. The law overwrites local zoning laws and ordinances.  

Soto-Martínez’s endorsements include:  

• LA Mayor Karen Bass 
• United Teachers of Los Angeles
• Teamsters Local 399
• DSA-LA 
• Dolores Huerta Action Fund
• Streets for All

Colter Carlisle

Colter Carlisle, who rents in the same apartment complex as Soto-Martínez, is a member of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council. Before becoming involved in local politics, Carlisle worked on more than 10 political campaigns across the U.S. at the local and national level from 2005 to 2015, according to his campaign website. Carlisle has lived in East Hollywood since he was 18 years old, the campaign site said. If elected, Carlisle said he would oppose SB79, which he argued would replace “rent stabilized units” with “luxury high rises.” 

Carlisle also said on his campaign website, without explaining in detail, that he would increase the funding available for food assistance, take an aggressive stance against ICE and Donald Trump “to protect our undocumented neighbors,” and cut down on red tape at City Hall by reducing fees and “streamlining city permitting and regulations.” 

Carlisle said he’d been endorsed by several neighborhood council members from across the district, some members of local police advisory boards, and the president of the Serrano Tenants Association. Carlisle raised $13,863 in campaign funds as of the end of 2025. 

Dylan Kendall

Dylan Kendall is a single foster mother, a founder of three non-profits, and a resident of City Council District 13 for more than 30 years, according to her campaign webpage.Each of the three non-profits are geared toward the arts and economic development for women and spaces “for the community to tell their stories” in the Hollywood and LA area. Kendall said she has used those decades of experience as a non-profit founder to advocate for those impacted by homelessness and the carceral and foster systems. If elected, she said she would work to create “safer streets, stronger local enterprise, and a city that works for the people who call it home.” 

Kendall’s platform is focused on hardline anti-gang measures, an increase in the number of LAPD officers and enforcing rules for “problem bars.” 

Kendall said she would also advocate for the “revitalization of public spaces” to make them “safe for all.” Other proposed policies include supporting small “mom and pop” businesses by keeping “more dollars circulating in our community.” 

As of late 2025, Kendall has raised $29,048 in total campaign contributions. 

Kendall’s endorsements include: 

• Michael Kadisha – Affordable Housing Builder
• Kate Skoien – Ridgewood Wilton Neighborhood Association, Small Theatre Advocate
• Gil Zahavi and Ofer Zahavi – Hollywood Blvd Business Leaders
• Richard Pink – Restaurant and Hollywood Business Leader 

Rich Sarian

Rich Sarian is a lifelong Angeleno, and is the only openly gay candidate running for City Council District 13. 

Sarian earned a degree in cinematography from Cal State Northridge. Since graduating in 2010, he has held multiple community leadership positions, including chair of the Hollywood Arts Council, the founder of the Los Angeles Public Theater, and board member of the Hollywood Police Activities League. 

Sarian is the vice president for strategic initiatives for the South Park Business Improvement District and a certified leader in “place management” through the International Downtown Association. Place management as an industry has a goal “to create prosperous city centers, commercial neighborhoods and livable urban places for all,” Sarian said in an email. 

Sarian’s policy ideas include lowering costs for residents by proposing universal childcare, though he hasn’t explained how it would be funded and free public transit for 18 and under. (Metro already provides free fares for those younger than age six and for LAUSD students through its GoPass program.) 

Other proposed policies include community-run grocery “hubs for supplementing basic needs,” and increases to housing construction and efforts to lower rent. Sarian, also proposes several measures to cut red tape for businesses, “secure tax credits for independent film making,” and advocate for accountability in City Hall. 

Sarian said in an email that they’re waiting on “some exciting endorsements from people and orgs that align with my vision of housing every Angeleno” and other groups that align with their policy goals. 

Sarian has raised $17,117 in campaign contributions through the end of 2025.