A Villanueva for Sheriff 2026 committee has registered with the Secretary of State’s office, but it is unclear whether this means former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva plans to challenge incumbent Robert Luna and seek a return to office.
Luna defeated Villanueva, 59.8% to 40.2%, on Nov. 8, 2022.
The new campaign finance committee filing was reported Saturday by the Los Angeles Times, which quoted Villanueva as saying in an email that “I’ll have something available next week.”
It was unclear when the filing was submitted.
In 2018, Villanueva, defeated Jim McDonnell, now chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, after one term. He went on to also become a one-term sheriff four years later after repeated clashes with the Democrat dominated Board of Supervisors over funding and policy matters as well as the agency’s Civilian Oversight Commission.
Former supporters also criticized Villanueva of abandoning his reform platform soon after winning office and doing nothing to curtail so-call deputy gangs.
In his 2022 concession speech, Villanueva lashed out at his critics for pushing what he called “false narratives” about his leadership.
“One thing I’ve learned … is that speaking truth to power is not without risks,” he told supporters. “I’ve faced adversity throughout my career in law enforcement because I’ve always spoke truth to power, never batted an eye.
“If there are people who think somehow we’re defeated, quite the opposite. We’re walking out of here with our heads high. We accomplished the mission we set out to be, we could have used probably four more years to solidify it, but we set a very high standard.”
In April, Lt. Oscar Martinez of the sheriff’s Palmdale Station announced plans to challenge Luna in 2026, saying he was running because the department needs a leader who will empower deputies to do their jobs.
“I’m putting my career and everything that I’ve worked for on the line, not for personal gain, but for my partners in law enforcement, as well as the future of public safety in our communities,” said Martinez, who has been with the department for more than 16 years.
Martinez was especially critical of Luna for not doing enough to defend deputy Trevor James Kirk, who was found guilty in February of excessive force for assaulting and pepper-spraying a woman during a 2023 confrontation outside a Lancaster supermarket.
Earlier this year Luna announced he would seek reelection, citing reduced crime and increased transparency as key accomplishments.
“Under my leadership, LASD has also improved compliance related to the jails and Antelope Valley settlements and increased community engagement and outreach,” he said in a statement on his website. “My bottom line: as Sheriff, our service must always be effective, respectful, empathetic, and constitutional.”