Each candidate's vote count by day, as Los Angeles County counted the mail-in and provisional ballots through certification. Election-night updates are shown as a single day. These are the certified final counts, official as of June 26, 2026.
Voter registration The candidate's party registration looked up directly against the LA County voter file. A self-declaration captured on a public form, distinct from any later campaign statement.See full context →
Registered No Party Preference with the Los Angeles County Registrar (queried January 2026). LA County Registrar →
Registered Republican with the Los Angeles County Registrar (queried January 2026). LA County Registrar →
Coalition The combined party mix of the candidate's endorsers and itemized donors. The endorser side surfaces organizational backing; the donor side surfaces who funded the campaign. Both are aggregate; no individual names appear.See full context →
When a donor is matched to a voter record, Torrance share goes by voter registration, not mailing address. So Hollywood Riviera donors (Redondo Beach 90277) registered in Torrance now count as Torrance. Unmatched donors fall back to mailing-address city, so a few may still slip through.
+ $60k self-loan (last pre-election filing, May 16)
Kartsonis
$424
average gift
+ $100 self-loan (last pre-election filing, May 16)
Where each candidate's money came from. Bigger segments mean more of the money came from donors at that gift size, smallest on the left.
Loans are money the campaign borrowed (here, every loan is the candidate lending their own committee), reported net of repayments as the outstanding balance on the latest filing. They are separate from donations and are not counted in the donations figure. Loan figures are the balance each campaign last reported while the race was still on, taken from the final filing before election day. Campaigns report on a filing schedule and none of those periods ends on election day itself, which is why the loan date differs from the donation window. Balances reported after the election, including loans a candidate has since repaid, are not counted here, because this section describes how the campaign was financed rather than what a committee owes today. See our finance data dictionary for how each figure is sourced.
The figure shown for each candidate is independent-expenditure spending: money spent by outside committees, which California does not cap. It is separate from the candidate's own donations, so you can add it to their Donations total for a fuller funding picture. Any direct campaign donations from these PACs are listed too and shown in grey; those are capped at $1,000 in Torrance and are already counted in the candidate's donations. Sourced from California Form 460 / 496 / 497 filings via NetFile.
Kaji received contributions from 13 real estate and property professionals (9% of dollars raised), including Aurelio Mattucci, a real estate broker who is also running for City Treasurer ($400). Kartsonis received contributions from one real estate professional (3% of dollars raised).
02
Shared donors with the mayor race
33 of Kaji's donors also gave to George Chen's mayoral campaign, accounting for $17,582 of Kaji's donor dollars and $18,559 of Chen's. 32 of Kartsonis's donors also gave to Sharon Kalani's mayoral campaign. For comparison, see Chen's donor geography.
03
Out-of-state donors
Kaji received contributions from donors in Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Texas, and Washington (4% of dollars raised). Kartsonis's filings show no out-of-state donors.
Issues about how much housing the city builds: density, ADU rules, by-right approvals, 6th-cycle Housing Element implementation.
Opposes state housing mandates that override local zoning control California ADU and density laws (SB 9, SB 35, AB 2011) limit how much cities can restrict housing in their own zoning codes. Opposing means asking the state to give local councils more authority over what gets built where.See full context →
— No record located
Says the state's mandate that Torrance add 5,000 housing units fell to the Planning Commission to site. As Commission chair, voted to direct those units away from single-family neighborhoods and away from open areas. Continues to back 'responsible development' and worked on the city's 6th-cycle Housing Element. 6
Homelessness
Issues about how the city responds to homelessness: enforcement, shelter siting, services balance, encampment policy.
Wants stricter homelessness enforcement Covers enforcing existing anti-camping rules, directing Measure H county dollars to Torrance services, and council resolutions opposing housing-first sites. The contestable axis is enforcement-led vs. housing-first approaches.See full context →
Says he opposed the homeless-housing project on Torrance Blvd. and continues advocating for planning that puts the community first. 1
Says Torrance needs to enforce its anti-camping rules and keep tax dollars in Torrance rather than sending them to LA County. 6
Opposed Project Homekey+ at the Extended Stay America hotel Project Homekey+ was an LA County and Weingart Foundation plan to convert the Extended Stay America hotel at 3525 Torrance Blvd. into supportive housing for unhoused residents. The Council passed a non-binding resolution opposing the site on May 23, 2025.See full context →
Opposed Project Homekey+, the LA County and Weingart proposal to convert the Extended Stay America hotel on Torrance Boulevard into permanent supportive housing. Continues to advocate for 'planning that puts the community first.' 1
— No record located
City Budget
Issues about the size of the general-fund budget, new program commitments, and major capital spending.
Wants to annex El Camino Village A proposal to extend Torrance's city limits to include El Camino Village, the unincorporated LA County neighborhood east of Crenshaw. City staff estimate roughly $27M in startup costs and $11M annually; the move would require LAFCO approval.See full context →
Originated the August 2024 staff-research request on annexation and supported creating the January 14, 2025 ad-hoc committee; cites the opportunity to extend Torrance Police patrol to El Camino College. 4
At the Riviera HOA / Seaside Neighborhood Association candidate forum, has publicly opposed annexing El Camino Village, citing city staff cost figures of about $27 million in startup costs and $11 million annually as disqualifying. 9
Says Torrance is fiscally healthy Recent state and county analyses have ranked Torrance among California cities most exposed to fiscal stress. The contestable axis is whether the city's reserves and recurring spending sit on stable footing or signal trouble ahead.See full context →
Says his record includes bringing the city budget back into the black, strengthening reserves, and keeping essential services funded. 1
Says Torrance is ranked as the fourth most likely city in California to go bankrupt and that reserves are depleted. 6
Wants to cap council overseas travel The Sister Cities and Friendship Cities program funds council travel to Torrance's partner cities abroad. The contestable axis is whether to cap that travel budget or keep funding active exchanges.See full context →
— No record located
Says the city should focus on making Torrance better before raising the international travel budgets of the City Council. 6
Transit & Mobility
Issues about how people move through Torrance: on-demand and public transit, bike lanes, sidewalks, transit-fleet expansion, mode-shift investments.
Backs the Metro C/Green Line extension A proposed Metro C (formerly Green) Line extension into the South Bay would use existing freight rail right-of-way to bring light rail closer to Torrance. The project still needs regional approval; no Torrance station is sited yet.See full context →
Says he works to give Torrance a strong voice in major transportation projects, including the Metro extension. Has not stated a public position on the route alternative or the alignment. 1
Backs the extension via Alternative 1 (the existing rail right-of-way behind the Galleria). Opposes the Hawthorne Boulevard alignment, citing traffic impacts and on-grade-crossing safety. Opposes tunneling on safety and cost grounds. 6
Environment
Issues about pollution and environmental protection: refinery operations, air-quality monitoring, water resources, beaches, fenceline oversight of local industry.
Wants stronger fenceline monitoring of the refinery Fenceline monitoring measures air pollutants at the Torrance Refinery's perimeter. SCAQMD installed an air monitor at Guenser Park; supporters want additional sensors and public data, citing past hydrogen fluoride and PM2.5 incidents.See full context →
— No record located
Says on his campaign site that he made the motion that directed staff to dedicate a small corner of Guenser Park to an SCAQMD air monitoring station, which has since been installed as a contributor to TorranceAir.org; served on the Torrance Refining Company Community Advisory Panel 2022-2024. 6
Jeremy Gerson, Councilmember; Former TUSD School Board Member
Asam Sheikh, Councilmember; Former Planning Commissioner
Bridgett Lewis, Councilmember; Former Civil Service Commissioner
+ 48 more
Sharon Kalani, Mayor Pro-Tem; Councilmember
Dave Zygielbaum, TUSD School Board Member
Anil Muhammed, TUSD School Board Member; Former Torrance Commissioner; North Torrance Neighborhood Association Board Member
Eugene Krc, Airport Commissioner
Francisco Leonardo Olmos, Airport Commissioner
G. Rick Marshall, Vice Chair, Torrance Airport Commission
Gary Seferian, Airport Commissioner
Keith Montoya, Commission on Aging Commissioner; Torrance Citizen of the Year
Mia Kartsonis, Civil Service Commissioner; North Torrance Neighborhood Association Board Member
Marianne Hamada, Civil Service Commissioner; North Torrance Neighborhood Association President
Cinda Herring, Civil Service Commissioner; Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation Board Member
Jean Adelsman, Civil Service Commissioner; Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation Board Member
Camilla Seferian, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commissioner; Board Member of Torrance Education Foundation; President of Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation
Nyree Berry, Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commissioner
Adam Schwartz, Torrance Historic Preservation Commissioner
Peter LeFevre, Library Commission Chairperson
Julie Dojiri, Torrance City Commissioner
Robert 'Bob' Habel, Parks and Recreation Commissioner; Former Traffic Commissioner; Torrance Citizen of the Year
Zohra Muhammed, Parks and Recreation Commissioner
Garrett Wright, Parks and Recreation Commissioner (endorsing as citizen, not commissioner)
Ron Riggs, Planning Commissioner; Former SST Citizen's Oversight Committee Chairperson
Melissa Wright, Social Services Commissioner; SST Citizen's Oversight Committee
Teresa Furey, Social Services Commissioner
Arohi Sharma, Traffic Commission Chairperson
Isabel Schwartz, Traffic Commissioner
Dan Thomas, Water Commissioner; Former Traffic Commissioner; Former Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce Technology Chair
Ed Candioty, Torrance Cultural Arts Commissioner
Frank Scotto, Former Torrance Mayor
Patrick J. Furey, Former Torrance Mayor
Heidi Ann Ashcraft, Former Torrance Councilwoman; Former TUSD School Board Member
Geoff Rizzo, Former Torrance Councilman; Former Torrance Police Lieutenant
Cliff Numark, Former Torrance Councilman; Former El Camino College Trustee
Mike Griffiths, Former Torrance Councilman; Historic Preservation Commissioner
Jack Walser, Former Torrance City Councilmember; Former Water Commission Chair; WALSER's Business Owner in Torrance
Kurt Weideman, Former Torrance Councilman; Historic Preservation Commissioner
Tom Brewer, Former Torrance City Councilmember
Paul Nowatka, Former Torrance City Councilmember; Retired TPD
Bill Sutherland, Former Torrance City Councilmember
Sue Herbers, Former Torrance City Clerk
Ann P. Gallagher, Former TUSD School Board Member
Beth Wilson, Former TUSD School Board Member
Estella Hill, Former Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commissioner; Torrance Police Chief's Advisory Board
Robert Rudolph, Former Planning Commissioner; Former North Torrance Homeowners Association President
Elizabeth Pino, Former Torrance Planning Commissioner
Richard Tsao, Former Torrance Planning Commissioner
Federal officialsKaji0Kartsonis1
Kaji
— none on file
Kartsonis
Ted Lieu, US Member of Congress; Former Torrance Councilmember
State & county officialsKaji0Kartsonis2
Kaji
— none on file
Kartsonis
Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor, 4th District; Former US Member of Congress
George Nakano, Former California State Assemblyman; Former Torrance City Councilman; Former teacher; Former President of the El Camino College Foundation; El Camino College Distinguished Alumnus
Public safetyKaji1Kartsonis3
Kaji
Torrance Police Officers' Association
Kartsonis
Torrance Firefighters Association
Torrance Police Commanders Association
ECC Police Officers' Association
LaborKaji0Kartsonis4
Kaji
— none on file
Kartsonis
CSEA Chapter 845
Southern California District Council of Laborers Local 1309
UA Local 250
+ 1 more
Western States Regional Council of Carpenters
BusinessKaji1Kartsonis2
Kaji
Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles
Kartsonis
BizFedPAC
Young Leaders Political Action Committee
Political clubsKaji0Kartsonis1
Kaji
— none on file
Kartsonis
Los Angeles County Republican Party (LAGOP)
AdvocacyKaji0Kartsonis1
Kaji
— none on file
Kartsonis
Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
City officialsKaji0Kartsonis7
Kaji
— none on file
Kartsonis
Martha Deutch, 4th Supervisorial District County Committee Chairperson at Los Angeles County Office of Education; Former TUSD School Board Member; Former President of the Torrance Education Foundation
Hugo Rojas, Vice-President, Centinela Valley Unified High School District
Robert Katherman, District 2 Board Member, Water Replenishment District of Southern California; Former Torrance Water Commissioner
+ 4 more
Mark Waronek, Lomita City Councilman; Former Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce President; Former LA County Board of Supervisors South Bay Deputy
Matthew Brach, SCROC Governing Board; Palos Verdes Unified School District School Board
Jeff Gaul, Redondo Beach Public Safety Commissioner
Mark Burton, Former Manhattan Beach Mayor; Former Los Angeles Senior Assistant City Attorney; El Camino College Foundation Board Member
IndividualsKaji0Kartsonis18
Kaji
— none on file
Kartsonis
Daniel Ashcraft, Local small business owner; Former Torrance Police Department Chaplain
Arun Bhumitra, Torrance small business owner
Gabriela Fischer, Torrance business owner, resident, and Founder of The Utopian Society Project
+ 15 more
Derf Fredericks, Managing Broker, The Real Estate Group; Realtor
Danny Fredericks, Realtor
Jimmy Gow, Former Social Service Commissioner
Mary Hoffman, Former President, Vice President, and Treasurer of TEF; President of the Torrance Rose Float Association
William 'Bill' Oberholzer, SVP, Preferred Bank
Janet Payne, Community Volunteer
Pamela Popovich, Former Co-President, Riviera Homeowner Association
Lili Trujillo Puckett, Community Advocate for Safer Streets
Totran Radke, Rancho Palos Verdes Infrastructure Management Advisory Committee Board Member; Former Torrance Cultural Arts Commissioner
Rachael Steven, Torrance Police Chief's Advisory Board Member; Vice-President, Torrance Police Foundation; Secretary, FBI Los Angeles Citizen's Academy Alumni Association; Former Torrance Education Foundation Board Member; Former El Camino College Foundation Board Member
Aaron Steven, Producer; Member SBAOR Affiliates in Action
He was elected to the District 1 seat on the Torrance City Council in 2022 and chairs the council's Finance and Governmental Operations Committee. 1
He has served on the Torrance Planning Commission since 2020 and as its chair since 2023, after a prior term on the city's Parks and Recreation Commission from 2019 to 2020. 6
Torrance roots
A native of the South Bay, Kaji is a husband and father. 1
A South Bay native, Kartsonis lives in North Torrance with his wife Mia and their two children. 7
Career
Kaji founded Kaji & Associates, a commercial real estate firm in North Torrance, in 1990, and has owned and renovated three commercial shopping centers in the city. 3
Kartsonis works at his family's small business in Torrance, founded by his parents nearly 30 years ago, and previously chaired the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce's Tech Talks program from 2017 to 2022. 6
Education
— none on file
Holds a Bachelor of Arts from UC Santa Barbara and an Associate of Arts from El Camino College, with a certificate in financial markets from Yale. 6
Civic affiliation
He has previously served as president of the Gardena Valley JACL, president of the Gardena-Carson Family YMCA, and a member of the Japanese American National Museum Board of Governors. 3
Kartsonis is the immediate past president of the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation and a board member of the Torrance/South Bay YMCA and AYSO North Torrance, and previously served on the El Camino College Foundation board for a decade, including as president from 2016 to 2018. 6
1All data from $100+ contributions filed with the City of Torrance through June 1, 2026 via Torrance NetFile. Contributions under $100 are not required to be itemized and are not included.
3Outside-money figures aggregated from public campaign-finance filings, Form 496 independent-expenditure line items, Form 497 late contributions, and Form 460 Schedule A direct contributions. Each named organization is filed under its FPPC filer ID (shown next to its name) and can be looked up directly in the source systems below. Data through May 30, 2026. Verify: Torrance NetFile (Team Torrance PAC and Torrance candidate committees) at netfile.com/public/TOR/campaign; Irvine NetFile (California Leadership Today FPPC 1477310 and Lincoln Club state-PAC Irvine-cycle filings) at netfile.com/public/COI/campaign; California Secretary of State PowerSearch (Atlas PAC FPPC 1279586 and other state-registered committees) at powersearch.sos.ca.gov/advanced.php; and Cal-Access committee detail pages (committee history, including any prior or renamed committee names under the same filer ID) at cal-access.sos.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/.
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