District 4, Westside<\/b><\/p>\n
Well ahead in District 4 was two-term incumbent Melvoin. His challenger was Ankur Patel.<\/p>\n
The funding advantage in Melvoin\u2019s campaign was sizable through just before election day: Melvoin, $378,803;<\/a> Patel: $22,662.<\/a> <\/p>\n In addition, Melvoin benefited from an independent expenditure of $367,093 <\/a>on his behalf by retired businessman Bill Bloomfield, who has been a major funder in recent campaigns, typically for candidates who also are acceptable to charter-school advocates. <\/p>\n Charters are privately operated public schools, most of which are nonunion. About 1 in 5 L.A. public-school students is enrolled in an independent charter operating within L.A. Unified.<\/p>\n District 2, downtown and Eastside<\/b><\/p>\n Also with a huge funding advantage was Rocio Rivas, who was headed toward a second term in District 2. <\/p>\n (Myung J. Chun \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Rivas\u2019 own campaign raised $66,218.<\/a> But the major funding source was $889,469<\/a> in an independent-expenditure campaign on her behalf, nearly all of it from the United Teachers Los Angeles union. The union also spent more than $4,000 in communications to its members about the election.<\/p>\n These figures compare with $2,525 raised by challenger Raquel Zamora, who reported spending $5,089.<\/p>\n In Rivas\u2019 successful 2022 run, her main funding opponent was Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union, which backed Maria Brenes for an open seat. Historically, Local 99 has not been inclined to oppose an incumbent, which Rivas has become. And, true to history, Local 99 has endorsed Rivas, but without spending money on her behalf. <\/p>\n An end to charter school wars<\/b><\/p>\n More broadly, this election cycle marks the end to a generation of bitterly contested Los Angeles school board races that became the most expensive in the country, with the L.A. teachers union and charter school advocates slugging <\/a>it out to advance their vision for public education.<\/p>\n Charter school supporters \u2014 who had poured tens of million of dollars into races to elect board members sympathetic to their cause \u2014 largely stepped aside, a reflection of their diminished resources and evolving strategy.<\/p>\n The bottom line is that, if current vote-count trends hold, the board will be unchanged for the next two years. <\/p>\n This situation is less than ideal for charter schools. Charters with a mixed record face a tough review when they come up for renewal \u2014 about once every five years. Charter opponents want the board majority to move more aggressively to shut down charters when possible and to force them off district campuses \u2014 where, under state law, they have a legal right to operate.<\/p>\n Big board decisions looming <\/b><\/p>\n Big decisions before the board include how to manage a projected structural deficient \u2014 with union leaders calling the dire predictions an accounting mirage. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, Supt. Alberto Carvalho remains in limbo after a February FBI raid of his home and office. The investigation relates at least in part to a failed district chatbot project.<\/p>\n Carvalho maintains his innocence and would like to return to work. The board, however, has turned the reins over temporarily to acting Supt. Andres Chait. <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780486826_382_.jpeg\")
LAUSD Board Vice President Rocio Rivas was headed toward a second term in District 2. Her major funding source was $889,469<\/a> in an independent-expenditure campaign on her behalf, nearly all of it from the United Teachers Los Angeles union. <\/p>\n
![\"Words](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780486827_147_.jpeg\")
This election cycle marks the end to a generation of bitterly contested Los Angeles school board races that became the most expensive in the country, with the L.A. teachers union and