While the ballots continue to be counted and results will be certified next month, the election results for Culver City will very likely remain in their current positions.
On the city council race, Mayor Freddy Puza finished in a very strong first position with 9,850 ballots, more than 30% of the vote. Puza has promoted inclusivity and championed both housing and transportation during his first term on the council, likely key issues for voters who approve of his priorities.
The second open seat on the council will go to Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin who is currently standing with 23.38% of the vote, 7,475 ballots. This was Wisnosky Stehlin’s second run for the office, after the previous election in 2024 when she was one of a field of seven candidates running for three seats. Wisnosky Stehlin has served as a Cultural Affairs Commissioner with the city, promoting arts programs and overseeing grant awards.
These two will be seated on the council in December for a term of four years. Council can sit for two consecutive four year terms; Puza will be reach the end of his time limit at the end of his next term of office.
While third place candidate Thomas Aujero Small is less than 600 votes behind Wisnosky Stehlin, there would have to be a major surge in the remaining returns for him to overtake. In the past, candidates have changed places over dozens of votes, but not over hundreds.
The remaining candidates – Kimberley Griffin and Franklin Carvajal – finished with just over 20% and just over 4% respectively.
All of the incumbents running for the Culver City Unified School Board were re-elected to their seats. President Stephanie Loredo finished with 29.60% of the vote, totaling 11,470 ballots. Board member Brian Guerrero came in second, with 26.84% of the vote, a total of 10,398 – thus far. Again, the count is still not final. Triston Ezidore, who gained major fame as the youngest elected official in the state after his first successful campaign in 2024, also won re-election with 26.25 % of the the vote, 10,173 ballots so far.
The one challenging candidate, Darrel Menthe, currently has 17.31% of the vote, a distance far too large to be bridged by remaining ballots, even if most of them came in for him. This was Menthe’s third run for the school board.
On the local Measures, results have not changed much since the initial ballot drop on Election Night. Measure AA, the progressive parcel tax to support the schools, is a strong winner with just under 65% voting yes.
Measure T also won easily with 75.60% of the vote, a total of 13, 878 ballots. There were no qualms about increasing the ‘bed tax’ on hotel guests. It was the biggest vote-getter on the local ballot.
Measure YV was surprisingly defeated, after coming within arm’s reach the last time it was on the ballot. With the No vote coming in at 53.85 % a total of 9,811 ballots.
These are the totals current on Nov. 11, 2026. Los Angeles County will certify the election results on Dec. 3, 2026.
Judith Martin-Straw
