LOS ANGELES — The 9th Council District on the Los Angeles City Council has been represented by a Black elected official for more than 60 years. That could change as early as next year.

Councilman Curren Price is termed out of office in 2026 and his longtime aide, José Ugarte, has emerged as the early frontrunner in the race to succeed him. Ugarte, who is Latino, raised more than $211,000 during the most recent campaign finance reporting period, according to filings with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission.

Though the official candidate filing window doesn’t open until February 2026, Ugarte’s campaign committee has already secured more than $187,000 in cash on hand. A spokesperson for the Ethics Commission confirmed that Ugarte has filed the required Form 501 to legally raise funds and

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