Caroline Torosis
Mayor of Santa Monica, California, US
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Caroline Torosis is the mayor of Santa Monica, California. Since 2022, she has served on the city council, and she previously served as Mayor Pro Tempore from 2024 to 2025.[1][2][3] Tororis was sworn in as mayor on December 9, 2025.[4]
Caroline Torosis | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Santa Monica, California | |
| Assumed office December 9, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Lana Negrete |
| Mayor Pro Tempore of Santa Monica | |
| In office December 11, 2024 – December 9, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Lana Negrete |
| Succeeded by | Jesse Zwick |
| Member of the Santa Monica City Council | |
| Assumed office November 8, 2022 | |
| Commissioner, Santa Monica Rent Control Board | |
| In office 2016 – December 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Caroline Torosis |
| Party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Attorney Politician |
Background and career
Caroline Torosis holds a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and she also holds a degree from UCLA.[2] In 2016, Torosis was elected to the Santa Monica Rent Control Board.[5] Torosis was re-elected to the Rent Control Board in 2020.[6] She was then elected to the Santa Monica City Council in 2022, receiving the highest number of votes among all candidates.[7] In 2025, Torosis was sworn in as mayor[8] by California State Assemblyman Rick Zbur.[9]
In 2025, Torosis received a California Assembly District 51 Community Excellence Award for her work coordinating the regional response to the Palisades Fire.[10] In 2026, Torosis was one of eight United States mayors selected to participate in the Just City Mayoral Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.[11]
In addition to her role as Mayor, Torosis also serves as a policy director for Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell.[2] She has been described as a "workforce and economic development expert."[2]
Housing policy
In 2020, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported that Torosis was focused on preserving the availability of Santa Monica's rent controlled housing and protecting tenants.[12] Torosis has backed programs that support affordable housing.[13] Following public reports that a local developer planned to develop interim supportive housing on Ocean Avenue, Torosis voted to support "transparency standards for supportive and transitional housing projects."[4][14] Plans for interim housing at the Ocean Avenue sites were later withdrawn.[15] In January 2026, along with Councilmembers Dan Hall and Ellis Raskin, Torosis introduced an "Affordability Agenda" that would deliver programs to address rising housing costs and the rising cost of living in Santa Monica and the Southern California region.[16]
Economic development
In 2025, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a plan to revitalize the City's downtown area through new investments in public safety and economic development.[17] Torosis described the program as a "renaissance" plan for Santa Monica.[17] According to the Los Angeles Times, the plan implemented the goal of Torosis and allied councilmembers to "boost economic activity in the city."[18]
