By Stephen Oduntan
Contributing Writer
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — A City Council candidate who failed to qualify for the District 9 ballot June 2 is continuing his campaign as a write-in candidate, highlighting how ballot access rules shape who is able to compete for political power.
In Los Angeles City Council District 9, that dynamic has taken on new urgency after candidate Chris Martin failed to qualify for the ballot — and instead launched a write-in campaign, challenging both the outcome and the process that kept him off the ballot
According to the Los Angeles City Clerk, Martin submitted 906 signatures, but only 355 were deemed valid, leaving him short of the 500 required to qualify.
Martin disputes those findings and argues the process itself raises concerns about fairness and access.
“I don’t believe the process was handled fairly,” Martin said, pointing to rejected signatures tied to address discrepancies and technical filing issues. “Some of the grounds they used were problematic and inaccurate.”
Rather than exiting the race, Martin says he is continuing his campaign as a certified write-in candidate — a move that shifts the burden from qualification to voter awareness.
“I’m not giving up,” he said. “The people would not let me step down.”
His exclusion from the ballot also comes at a pivotal moment for District 9, long considered a historic center of Black political power in Los Angeles.
The district has been represented by a Black council member since 1963, but demographic shifts have transformed its makeup. Today, the district is approximately 78% Latino and about 13% Black, and many political observers expect the seat to transition to Latino representation following the term-limited departure of Councilman Curren Price in December.
Melina Abdullah, a professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State L.A. and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, said the implications extend beyond a single race.
“The likelihood that the 9th District will not be represented by a Black council member for the first time in 60 years marks a turning point in Black politics in Los Angeles,” Abdullah said.
Scholars say Martin’s situation also highlights a broader issue: ballot access itself can shape political outcomes before voters ever cast a ballot.
Marcus Anthony Hunter, a UCLA professor of sociology and African American studies, said the narrowing of the field raises deeper questions about representation.
“CD9 tells a larger story about Los Angeles right now,” Hunter said. “Representation is not just about who people vote for, it is about who is able to appear before voters in the first place.”
“When ballot access narrows, so does representation and the imagination of what leadership can look like,” he added.
The candidate qualification process requires campaigns to gather signatures from registered voters within the district, but signatures can be invalidated for technical errors, outdated voter information, or registration discrepancies.
Hunter said that while ballot access rules may appear neutral, they can function as barriers to entry that limit competition and disadvantage candidates without established political infrastructure.
For some community voices, the issue is not just procedural but reflects conditions on the ground in South Los Angeles.
Gloria Zuurveen, editor-in-chief of Pace News, said strict validation standards may not account for housing instability in the district.
“You can’t apply rigid standards in a community where people are constantly being displaced,” Zuurveen said. “In a district with a high rate of homelessness and transiency, those rules can end up excluding legitimate voters.”
She described Martin as a candidate shaped by the community he seeks to represent.
“Mr. Martin’s candidacy reflects a community legacy,” she said. “He was raised in District 9 and chose to come back and serve the community.”
The dynamics playing out in District 9 mirror broader shifts across California, where political power is increasingly shaped by access, organization and coalition-building.
In the race to succeed Gavin Newsom, a crowded and unsettled field has already been reshaped by the recent exit of a leading Democratic candidate following allegations of misconduct, underscoring how quickly the contours of competition can change before voters cast a ballot.
With multiple high-profile races across the state, questions about who is able to compete — and under what conditions — are becoming central to the political conversation.
In that context, the District 9 race offers a localized example of a wider trend: as the rules governing entry into the political arena narrow, so too may the range of voices voters are able to consider.
Martin’s write-in campaign now hinges on voter awareness and participation — a significantly steeper challenge than appearing on the ballot.
“I’m not giving up,” he said. “The people would not let me step down.”
Tom Bailey, a District 9 resident, said Martin’s campaign still resonates with voters despite the ballot setback.
“I support Chris Martin because he has the potential to improve the quality of life for everyone, not just select groups,” Bailey said. “He approaches leadership with a sense of equity, ethics and inclusivity, which is what this community needs.”
Joyce Farron Allen, a professor emeritus and longtime District 9 resident, said Martin represents a different kind of leadership.
“I believe voters should still write in his name because District 9 deserves a leader who will stand up for us, fight for us, and deliver the change our community has been denied for far too long,” Allen said.
Efforts to obtain comment from Price’s office were unsuccessful.
Six candidates — all Latino — are on the 9th District ballot June 2. They include Jose Ugarte, an aide to Price; Martha Sanchez, a professor and therapist; Jorge Nuno, a social entrepreneur; Jose Hernandez, an educator and therapist; Elmer Roldan, a nonprofit director; and Estuardo Mazariegos, a community organization director.
Stephen Oduntan is a freelance writer for Wave Newspapers.
