LA County Sheriff · Tablero Comunitario

What is at stake

The Los Angeles County Sheriff oversees the largest sheriff's agency in the United States, with a budget near 4 billion dollars and roughly 8,700 sworn deputies plus 5,400 civilian staff (per LAist's May 7, 2026 voter guide reporting). The department polices 42 contract cities including Compton, Lancaster, and Malibu, and patrols every unincorporated area, which includes East LA, Florence-Firestone, Walnut Park, and most of north LA County. If you live in one of these communities, the sheriff is your local police.

The jailsCalifornia Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a federal lawsuit in September 2025 alleging unconstitutional, inhumane conditions inside LA County jails, citing filth, rat infestations, lack of clean water, spoiled food, and inadequate medical care.

Deputy gangsThe 2021 LMU Loyola Law School "Fifty Years of Deputy Gangs" report profiled 18 secret deputy subgroups inside LASD, eleven of which the report classified as gangs, with shared tattoos, escalating uses of force, and rituals modeled after street gangs.

Use of force in SELAResidents in heavily patrolled neighborhoods continue to report excessive force, including against people who protested federal immigration enforcement in LA last summer.

Recruitment crunchDeputies are sometimes ordered into mandatory overtime because hiring has not kept up. The next sheriff has to figure out how to staff up without lowering standards.

Civilian oversightThe current sheriff has at times refused subpoenas from the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission. The next sheriff sets the tone for whether the panel can do its job.

2028 OlympicsThe next term covers Olympic-year security planning for LA County venues and unincorporated routes.

Who is running · eight candidates

Per the LA County Registrar of Voters' certified candidate list and LAist's May 7, 2026 voter guide:

Robert Lunaincumbent

Elected 2022 · former Long Beach Chief of Police

Grew up in East LA. Master's in public administration from Cal State Long Beach. Endorsed by the LA County Democratic Party, the LA County Federation of Labor, and the LA County Police Chiefs Association. Has asked the National Institute of Corrections to review jail conditions after a spike in jail deaths.

Alex Villanueva

Former sheriff 2018-2022

Defeated by Luna in 2022. After leaving office, was placed on the county's "do not rehire" list following findings by the County Equity Oversight Panel that he violated policies on discrimination and harassment, allegations he denies. Endorsed by the LA County Republican Party and the LA County Taxpayers Association.

Eric Strong

Retired LASD lieutenant · USMC veteran

Thirty years across Compton PD, Pasadena PD, and LASD. Former chief safety and security officer for LA County Probation. FBI National Academy graduate. Second run for sheriff. Says he wants to build alternatives to incarceration and reduce recidivism. Endorsed by Stevie Wonder and the Progressive Democratic Club, per his campaign.

Mike Bornman

Retired LASD captain · 36 years

Raised in Pacoima. Former internal affairs investigator on officer-involved shootings. Built out the department's Education Based Incarceration Bureau. Pledges a "100% forensic audit of every dime spent." Endorsed by retired sheriff officials including retired Assistant Sheriff Robert Olmsted.

Brendan Corbett

Retired assistant sheriff · 39 years

Whittier High graduate. Served in patrol, SWAT operations, and as assistant sheriff over custody (the jails). Wants to expand the reserve deputy program, build an inmate-release program for unhoused people leaving jail, and invest in response-time technology.

Karla Carranza

LASD sergeant · second run for sheriff

Born in El Salvador during the civil war, immigrated as a child, attacked in Lynwood at age 16, lost a younger brother to gang violence. With the department since 2005. Bachelor's from Cal State Long Beach. Campaigns on community policing.

Oscar Antonio Martinez

LASD lieutenant · USMC combat veteran

Immigrant. Eight years in the Marine Corps with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently watch commander at Palmdale station. Per LAist, supports allowing federal immigration agents inside LA County jails. Endorsed by the California Republican Assembly and the California Republican Veterans Association.

Andre N. White

LASD deputy · gang detective

Raised in Compton by a single mother, former child actor, EMT before joining the department in 2014. Currently with Operation Safe Streets. Says he would hire more deputies "from underserved communities to ensure deputies reflect the people they serve."

If a candidate wins more than 50 percent in the June primary, they win outright. If not, the top two move to a November runoff.

Money in this race

As of LAist's May 9, 2026 update of the campaign-finance section of its voter guide, no independent expenditure committees had reported spending to support or oppose any candidate in this race. That can change quickly. cagovtracker.com refreshes IE figures regularly; the dashboard re-pulls this race's money picture in the next data sync.

In the news

Reporting on the LA County Sheriff race.

NBC Los Angeles, 2026Who are the candidates for LA County Sheriff? Robert Luna faces 7 challengers Profiles incumbent Sheriff Robert Luna and his challengers, including former Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
LAist, 2026LA County sheriff: Who's running in the June 2 primary and why it matters A voter-guide explainer covering the jail conditions lawsuit, staffing crisis and deputy gangs.
FOX 11 Los Angeles, 2026LA County Sheriff Election: Meet the 8 certified candidates in the June 2 primary Profiles the full certified field.

The guide's position

The guide's pick on this race is in the Member Portal voter guide. Member access is free; email barriopower@gmail.com to request.

Sources

Certified candidate list: LA County Registrar (lavote.gov) and California Secretary of State sos.ca.gov. Voter guide reporting: LAist, May 7, 2026, updated May 9 · FOX 11 LA candidate roundup. Attorney General complaint over jail conditions: Bonta v. County of Los Angeles, filed September 2025 (PDF). Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission reports: coc.lacounty.gov. Deputy-gangs documentation: LMU Loyola Law School, Center for Juvenile Law & Policy, "Fifty Years of Deputy Gangs in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department" (January 2021).