Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna is seeking a second term in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan race includes Alex Villanueva.
Luna, the incumbent, has held the office since 2022. The countywide sheriff's race appears on Santa Monica ballots.
Candidate information
- Party: Nonpartisan
- Office sought: Los Angeles County Sheriff
- Education: Master of public administration from California State University, Long Beach; graduate of the Delinquency Control Institute at the University of Southern California; graduate of the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University; graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute and National Academy, according to his campaign website
Experience and public service
Luna said he was born and raised in East Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents, according to his campaign website. Growing up in unincorporated East LA, his neighborhood was patrolled by the Sheriff's Department, an experience he said shaped his philosophy on relationship-based policing in communities of color.
He joined the Long Beach Police Department in 1985 as a reserve officer and rose through every rank over a nearly three-decade career, according to his campaign website. He served as chief of police starting in 2014, becoming the first Latino to hold that position, his campaign said. He also served as an executive board member of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, according to his campaign website.
On the issues
Public safety priorities: Luna has outlined five priorities for the department: reduce violent crime, increase public trust, modernize the department, address homelessness, and improve deputy and employee wellness, according to his campaign website.
Policing philosophy: Luna said service must always be "effective, respectful, empathetic, and constitutional." He said he created the Office of Constitutional Policing and implemented a policy banning law enforcement gangs to increase public trust, according to his campaign website.
Immigration enforcement: Luna said the department will not initiate immigration enforcement or ask about people's immigration status but could assist federal agencies under certain circumstances, according to the Daily Bruin.
Endorsements
Luna has received endorsements from elected officials, labor organizations and law enforcement groups, according to the Los Angeles Times and BallotReady:
- All five LA County supervisors
- U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif.
- Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
- LA County Chief Police Chiefs Association
- LA County Federation of Labor
- Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
- Heart of LA Democratic Club
- Democrats for Neighborhood Action
- Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
Profile sources: Luna's campaign website, the Los Angeles Times, the Daily Bruin and BallotReady. Policy positions reflect the candidate's own statements unless noted.
