Overview
- Early returns on Tuesday showed incumbent Robert Luna with a sizeable lead over former sheriff Alex Villanueva and left open the possibility that Luna could win reelection outright if he surpasses 50 percent of the vote.
- If no candidate reaches a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to a November runoff and it is likely that Luna and Villanueva would again be the finalists.
- Several departmental candidates trailed in early counts with retired Lt. Eric Strong in third followed by Sgt. Karla Carranza, Oscar Martinez, Capt. Mike Bornman, Andre White and Brendan Corbett.
- The sheriff’s office faces a September 2025 lawsuit from California Attorney General Rob Bonta that alleges unconstitutional jail conditions including filth, infestations, spoiled food and inadequate medical care, plus ongoing problems recruiting deputies and complaints about excessive use of force.
- The next sheriff will lead reforms at the nation’s largest sheriff’s department, affect deputies’ workloads and community safety, and help plan security for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.