Luna Takes Early Lead in LA Sheriff Race
Robert Luna leads incumbent-challenger Alex Villanueva in early returns for the Los Angeles County sheriff's seat.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Returns in the Los Angeles County sheriff's race heavily favored Robert Luna after polls closed on November 4, 2026. Luna previously unseated Villanueva in 2022 by a 23-percentage-point margin.
Why it matters
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is the largest sheriff's agency in the country, so its leadership carries significant weight for public safety across California. The race also reflects ongoing scrutiny of conditions in county jails and of the department's internal discipline record.
Early returns from the November 4, 2026 election heavily favored Luna over Villanueva, but final results are not yet stated. Luna's deputies reported a 25% reduction in homicides in areas they patrolled, while the source does not detail a certified count for this cycle.
The players
Robert Luna
Robert Luna is a former Long Beach police chief who won the Los Angeles County sheriff's seat in 2022 and was leading early returns in the 2026 race.
Alex Villanueva
Alex Villanueva is a former Los Angeles County sheriff who lost his 2022 reelection bid to Luna and was later placed on a 'do not rehire' list by the county.
The details
Luna unseated then-incumbent Villanueva in 2022. Villanueva was later placed on a 'do not rehire' list after the County Equity Oversight Panel found he violated discrimination and harassment policies, a finding he denied.
Timeline
- 2022: Luna unseats Villanueva by 23 percentage points.
- November 4, 2026: Polls close and early returns favor Luna.
- 2028: The next sheriff oversees security for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Legal Context
Luna's 2022 defeat of incumbent Alex Villanueva established the current leadership of the nation's largest sheriff's department. The 2026 contest now tests whether that turnover holds amid federal scrutiny of conditions at the Men's Central Jail.
Residents of Los Angeles County will be affected by who leads the sheriff's department, including the response to jail conditions under federal and state review. Changes in leadership can alter patrol priorities in neighborhoods across the county.
The takeaway
Voters in California's largest county are choosing the leader of its biggest law enforcement agency, and the outcome will shape jail oversight and public safety. Following the certified results will show whether the 2022 turnover is confirmed.
What happens next
The next sheriff will oversee security for the 2028 Olympic Games in and around Los Angeles.
Further reading
For more on the agencies shaping these races, see Law Enforcement coverage across California.
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Do you think conditions at your county's law enforcement are getting better or worse?
