Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva officially announced on July 22 (Tuesday) that he will be running for re-election in 2026 to reclaim his position as head of the largest sheriff’s department in the United States.
“It’s true: I will be running for Los Angeles County Sheriff again,” Villanueva stated. He registered his campaign committee last week but only confirmed his candidacy on Tuesday night. One of the main reasons he cited for running again is the “leadership failure” across the entire county.
In a video released on Tuesday, he pointed out, “In recent years, Los Angeles County has witnessed the consequences of leadership failure, not only within the sheriff’s department but also throughout our entire local government.” He plans to eliminate political factors from public safety once he returns to office.
As the largest sheriff’s department in the United States and the world, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) has 18,000 employees who provide law enforcement services to over 10 million residents in the county.
Villanueva, who was elected as the 33rd Sheriff of Los Angeles County with strong support from the Democratic Party in 2018, faced ongoing conflicts with the Democratic Party-dominated Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on many policy issues during his tenure. He was ultimately defeated by the incumbent sheriff, Robert Luna, in the re-election campaign of 2022.
Expressing regret in the video, Villanueva highlighted the worrisome state of public safety in Los Angeles County currently. “Lawlessness has become the norm throughout the entire county on our streets. Street takeovers, looting, and organized theft gangs have left communities in a state of fear and unease,” he said. “Families feel unsafe, and officers feel lacking in support.”
He continued, “We must save this department from its paralysis, rebuild its strength, and restore its ability to combat, resolve, and prevent crimes.”
Since leaving office, Villanueva has remained active in the public eye, often sharing his opinions on law enforcement and county government policies through social media and broadcasting programs. If he returns in 2026, he plans to focus on community safety and remove “politics” from public safety.
Meanwhile, the incumbent sheriff, Luna, has announced his intention to seek re-election in 2026.