Marissa Roy Leads City Attorney Race by 17 Points
New polling shows Marissa Roy holding a double-digit lead over John McKinney ahead of the upcoming election.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Civic Engagement
Live Poll
Do you believe local legal strategies like affirmative litigation are effective at reducing street homelessness?
Recent data reveals Marissa Roy maintains a 17 percentage point lead over opponent John McKinney in the Los Angeles city attorney race. With the election approaching, 36% of likely voters support Roy, while 19% back McKinney.
Why it matters
The Los Angeles city attorney oversees a $200 million annual budget and a 1,000-person staff, making the office central to local policy implementation. Voters are particularly focused on street homelessness, which 43% of the electorate identified as their top issue.
Current polling indicates 45% of voters remain undecided, a significant drop from the 70% recorded last month. Approximately two-thirds of the electorate are renters, and historical data shows 15% lower turnout in this race compared to mayoral contests.
The players
Marissa Roy
She is a candidate for Los Angeles city attorney currently leading in the latest voter polling.
John McKinney
He is a candidate for Los Angeles city attorney challenging for the municipal office.
UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies
This academic research center conducted the poll of likely Los Angeles voters regarding the city attorney contest.
The details
The race for city attorney is shaping up as candidates work to capture the remaining undecided voter block. Supporters are leveraging independent expenditure groups to intensify campaign messaging before the Nov. 3 vote.
Timeline
September 2026 saw the mayoral race narrow significantly.
October 2026 marked a period where candidates made inroads with voters.
The Los Angeles city attorney election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Political Context
Opposition groups often argue that the administrative focus of the office should shift away from current priorities despite the existing $200 million budget mandate. Skeptics frequently push back against the current legal strategies employed by the office to address street homelessness.
Residents should note that the city attorney manages a 1,000-person staff that oversees municipal legal affairs and policy enforcement. The outcome directly impacts the city's approach to local issues like street homelessness which remains a top concern for voters.
The takeaway
Voters should be aware that the city attorney race historically sees lower participation than mayoral elections. Evaluating candidate stances on homelessness is crucial given that nearly half of all likely voters view it as the most pressing municipal issue.
What happens next
The city attorney election is scheduled to occur on Nov. 3, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local elections, visit the Civic Engagement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
Live Poll
Do you believe local legal strategies like affirmative litigation are effective at reducing street homelessness?
