Wave Wire Services
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — Former City Council aide Jose Ugarte was ahead of Estuardo Mazariegos in the race to replace City Councilman Curren Price in the 9th District.
Ugarte, a former deputy chief of staff to Price, led Mazariegos, co-director of the L.A. chapter of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, by 1,936 votes early Nov. 4. Ugarte had received 13,123 votes, or 55.98%, compared with 11,187 votes, or 46.02%, for Mazariegos, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office.
The 9th Council District encompasses areas such as downtown L.A., Vermont Square, Central-Alameda and Green Meadows.
Whoever wins the seat is poised to make history, as voters will elect a Latino council member for the first time since 1962, when Edward Roybal led the district. For years, the district has been represented by a Black council member, but its demographics have shifted over the decades, and it is now about 80% Latino.
Mazariegos and Ugarte differed on policing and homelessness and had very different campaign support.
Mazariegos called for more oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department and a reduction in the department’s funding to support other departments, services and programs. He supports bolstering the city’s unarmed crisis-response programs and has criticized L.A.’s anti-camping law, known as 41.18.
Ugarte supports Mayor Karen Bass’ goal of restoring the LAPD’s rank and file to 9,500 officers. He also supports enforcement of L.A.’s anti-camping law.
The L.A. chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Mazariegos. He has also received support from City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, City Controller Kenneth Mejia, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., United Teachers Los Angeles, L.A. Forward and several labor unions.
The L.A. County Democratic Party, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Action Fund, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, City Councilman Tim McOsker and others endorsed Ugarte.
Ugarte benefited from independent expenditures supporting his campaign from Airbnb, Uber and the California Apartment Association. Mazariegos has criticized these outside players for what he describes as attempts to advance their agendas and buy influence at City Hall.
In 2025, the City Ethics Commission fined Ugarte $20,000 for failing to disclose outside income he received from lobbying and consulting work. He agreed to pay the fine. He previously said his work with Ugarte & Associates never overlapped with his tenure as Price’s chief deputy.
Price hired Ugarte in 2013, and Ugarte stepped down from his position in 2019. He returned to his post in 2021. Ugarte started his company with his sister in 2018.
JUMPHEAD
Ugarte leads Mazariegos in bid to succeed Curren Price
