Your last-minute guide to obscure but important L.A. County elections: Judges, Sheriff, health care
-
Click here to listen to this article - Share via
With long ballots, you can excuse voters for knowing more about some races than others.
This is especially true this year, with such heated races for California governor and Los Angeles mayor. But even some of those down-ballot choices can have major ramifications. We have selected three to explore that have not received the spotlight.
Follow live updates, analysis and highlights from 2026 election day’s key races, such as California governor, Los Angeles mayor, L.A. City Council and more.
1. Judges
One of the more challenging decisions for voters is L.A. Superior Court judge. In this election, 15 races are on the ballot and 11 are competitive.
So what do Superior Court judges handle? The Judicial Branch of California provided this breakdown:
- All civil cases (family law, probate, juvenile and other civil cases)
- All criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions like traffic tickets)
- Small claims cases and appeals of small claims cases
- Appeals of civil cases involving $35,000 or less
- Appeals of infraction (like traffic) and misdemeanor cases
Source: California Courts Self-Help Guide
The Times researched the races and here is our guide:
Fifteen Los Angeles Superior Court seats go to voters June 2, with only 11 races featuring competitive contests between two or more candidates. Here is your voter guide.
2. Healthcare
Healthcare is a vexing issue in L.A. County, The half-cent sales tax on the ballot would go to prop up local hospitals and clinics.
Backers say it’s necessary after President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is set to slash more than $2 billion from the county’s budget for health services over the next three years. Critics worry it could hurt business and be a burden on taxpayers.
Here is our guide and some related coverage:
Faced with federal funding cuts, L.A. County voters will be asked this June if they want to pay a little more at the register to shore up the region’s public health system.
L.A. County supervisors and healthcare advocates are pushing for a half-cent sales tax to cover services that are expected to be lost due to cutbacks in federal funding.
With the electorate in a dour mood and reeling from rocketing gas prices, some speculate that voters’ willingness to tax themselves may be dwindling as ballots arrive for the June 2 election.
3. L.A. County sheriff
This is one of the highest-profile jobs in L.A. County and in recent years has been the center of much controversy.
But this particular race has been fairly muted. Robert Luna seeks a second term as L.A. County sheriff but faces seven challengers, including predecessor Alex Villanueva, whom he defeated in 2022.
Key issues include jail deaths, low morale among deputies, recruitment struggles and the proper role of oversight in the department.
Here is our guide and related coverage:
Incumbent Robert Luna will take on a crowded field in the race for Los Angeles County sheriff. Key issues include oversight, jail conditions, recruitment and boosting department morale.
Incumbent Robert Luna will take on a crowded field in the race for Los Angeles County sheriff. Key issues include oversight, jail conditions, recruitment and boosting department morale.
A field of challengers lobbing sharp criticism has already emerged to take on Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna when he is up for reelection next year.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
Author and CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti attempts to answer some questions about rebuilding communities in his new book about the Palisades Fire — and names a motive for a quick rebuild: the Olympic games coming to Los Angeles in 2028.
Today we discuss one of the pivotal events of the 1960s: the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Though the gunman was caught at the scene, confessed at trial, and even bragged about the shooting, his motives have largely been forgotten.
Fidel Martínez and Suzy Exposito sit down with Dominican-American singer, actress, and Latin Grammy-nominated artist Leslie Grace for a wide-ranging conversation about music, movies, and what it means to be Latino in Hollywood today.
