Kody Christiansen: From Homeless to Harvard to … West Hollywood City Hall? 2026 Campaign Story.

Kody Christiansen is running for West Hollywood City Council in the 2026 election. His campaign, called WEHOpe, is based in West Hollywood, California, and is published at wehopekody.com. Christiansen describes his path as going from homeless to Harvard to (hopefully) City Hall.

The campaign sets out a first-year plan and policy pages on public safety, animal care and a WeHo Legacy Business Program. It also proposes two pilots: a WEHO Civic Credit to make civic participation more accessible, and a WEHO Community Ideas Fund to give residents a direct voice in neighborhood improvements. The campaign site explains how the pilots could work, how they could be funded and how results would be measured. Christiansen's stated priorities include supporting local and legacy businesses, expanding affordable housing with planning, protecting historic neighborhoods and renter protections, investing in greener and safer streets, and addressing homelessness through wraparound care and housing pathways. He says every part of the city deserves representation, from the East Side to the Sunset Strip and the Rainbow District.

Christiansen moved to West Hollywood in 2005. He has been homeless on the Sunset Strip and stayed in a homeless shelter in Queens, New York, before getting sober and graduating from NYU, Harvard University, the University of Cambridge and University College London. He has worked as an actor, author and filmmaker, and has been a student leader and advocate. He marked 11 years sober on June 29th, 2026. He says he is running because too many residents no longer feel heard by City Hall, including renters worried about affordability, small business owners, and neighbors concerned about public safety. He calls the campaign a way of putting the "WE" back in WeHo. He has written opinion pieces published by WEHOnline and WEHO Times, including one on SB79 and local control of housing density, and making sure residents come first in every decision the council makes. The campaign has been covered by Beverly Press and Park Labrea News in reporting on open seats in the council race. Christiansen has also discussed his life story and his plans for the city on the Too Sensitive Podcast, hosted by Juliet Lyn.

Residents can read the first-year plan, the policy proposals and the endorsements page at wehopekody.com, where the campaign also accepts donations. The campaign can be reached by email at kodyforweho@gmail.com.

About Kody Christiansen

Kody Christiansen is a candidate for West Hollywood City Council in the 2026 election, running a campaign called WEHOpe. He moved to West Hollywood in 2005 and has worked as an actor, award-winning author, filmmaker, student leader and advocate. He graduated from NYU, Harvard University, the University of Cambridge and University College London. His campaign covers public safety, animal care, a WeHo Legacy Business Program, housing and homelessness, and proposes a WEHO Civic Credit and a WEHO Community Ideas Fund. Information is available at wehopekody.com. Paid for by WEHOpe, Kody Christiansen for West Hollywood City Council 2026, FPPC ID 1489921.