Los Angeles City Council Unanimously Approves O’Farrell’s Motion on Major Charter Reform

The expanded representation via the increase in Council seats would be the most significant reform measure in a century

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council today unanimously approved a motion from Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell calling for a ballot measure that would increase the number of Council districts, as well as an immediate, new redistricting process that would be needed to implement that update, if approved by voters. Today’s action means Los Angeles could have greater representation, an expanded number of Council seats, and an accompanying redistricting process in time for the 2026 elections.

“I am grateful to my colleagues for their unanimous support of my charter reform initiative,” said Councilmember O’Farrell. “I am eager to move forward with this imperative, and to put before voters this opportunity to decentralize the power structure in our city. Even as we navigate this challenging period, today we took the first step to ensuring fairer, more equitable, more accountable representation in Los Angeles.”

The number of City Council seats is set by the Los Angeles City Charter, and can only be amended via a charter amendment approved by voters.  The motion approved today instructs the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), with the assistance of the City Attorney, to prepare and present a report on the steps needed to place before the voters on the 2024 ballot a measure to increase the number of CIty Council seats from 15 to a larger number, to be determined, based on the City’s population growth. It also instructs the CLA, with the assistance of the City Administrative Officer, to prepare and present a report that outlines an immediate redistricting process to implement the update to more members, should the charter reform ballot initiative be successful.

The Los Angeles City Council has had 15 seats, representing 15 distinct geographical districts in the city, since 1925. Since then, the city of Los Angeles has grown from a population of fewer than one million to a diverse metropolis of nearly four million people that is home to some of the largest communities outside of their respective countries including Koreans, Armenians, Mexicans, Salvadorans, Filipinos, and many others. If ultimately approved and enacted by voters, O’Farrell’s charter reform would represent the most significant expansion of representation on the Los Angeles City Council in a century.