Commentary — In the grand sweep of Los Angeles County’s history, few institutions embody the weight of public trust and the complexity of human endeavor as the Sheriff’s Department. As The New Founders Journal—unaffiliated with any political party—seeks to inform voters, we turn our gaze to the 2026 Sheriff’s election, where three men, each shaped by distinct paths, vie to lead an office steeped in a legacy of service and sacrifice.
The Story
Since California’s statehood in 1850, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has carved a storied path through a landscape as vast and varied as the county itself. Spanning 4,058 square miles and serving millions through 21 stations, the department lives by its motto, “A Tradition of Service.”
Over 175 years, 34 sheriffs have shouldered the mantle, their tenures marked by courage, controversy, and the ceaseless demands of a growing metropolis. Among them, figures like Jim Barton (No. 2 & 5, 1852–1855, 1856) stand out, not only for serving split terms but for his tragic end—cut down in Irvine by the bandito Juan Flores, a tale the Alta Historian (
) will revisit later this year.Others, too, returned to the office, their names etched in the annals of the department’s history:
David W. Alexander (No. 3 & 12, 1856, 1876–1877)
William R. Rowland (No. 11 & 14, 1871–1875, 1880–1882)
John C. Cline (No. 20 & 25, 1893–1894, 1915–1921)
William A. Hammel (No. 22 & 24, 1899–1902, 1907–1914)
Alex Villanueva, the 33rd Sheriff, now seeks to join this rare company, aiming to serve again as the 35th. His ambition is not without precedent, nor is the prospect of a Spanish-speaking sheriff.
From Tomás Sánchez to Martin G. Aguirre, and notably Eugene W. Biscailuz (No. 27, 1932–1958), who spoke Basque, Spanish, English, and Latin, the department has long reflected the county’s diverse heritage. These men, rooted in the region’s Californio and Anglo-American tapestry, laid a foundation for leadership that resonates in today’s contest.
Below, in ascending order by last name, are the candidates vying to lead the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.
Mike Bornman: The Captain
Slogan: “Trusted Leadership for a Safer Future”
Website: CaptainMikeBornman.com
X at: LASDCaptainMike
Michael Bornman, a retired captain with 36 years of service in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), is running for Sheriff in the 2026 election. His campaign website highlights a career spanning custody, patrol, operations, criminal and administrative investigations, federal task forces, and bureau creation. Promoted to sergeant at Lennox Station, Bornman served as watch and field sergeant, supervising deputies, and later joined a high-priority joint task force due to his reputation as a tenacious investigator.
Bornman’s campaign emphasizes addressing the department’s challenges, including deteriorating infrastructure, declining morale, and decreasing public support. He proposes a forensic audit of the department’s budget to optimize spending. He prioritizes deputy morale, recruitment, and retention to combat overwork and a reported mental health crisis, with 12 deputy suicides under the current administration.
“LA County wants, needs, and deserves a sheriff who will lead with strength and integrity, free from political gamesmanship and agendas,” Bowman writes on X.
A veteran with a Master’s in Organizational Leadership, Bachelor’s in English, and Associate’s in Police Science, Bornman critiques the current leadership under Sheriff Robert Luna, citing forced overtime and systemic failures like the 2024 CAD system breakdown. His vision focuses on accountability, transparency, and restoring trust in the LASD.
As Los Angeles County approaches the 2026 Sheriff’s election, voters face a choice between candidates like Luna, Martinez, Villanueva, and now, Bornman. Each carries the department’s storied legacy, but Bornman’s platform centers on experienced leadership to navigate the county’s diverse and complex public safety challenges.
Robert Luna: The Incumbent
Slogan: “Re-Elect Robert Luna”
Website: LunaForSheriff.com
X at: LunaForSheriff
Robert Luna, the 34th Sheriff, assumed office in November 2022, bringing with him a vision forged in the streets of unincorporated East Los Angeles, where he grew up in a poor Latino immigrant family. His website outlines a career spanning 36 years with the Long Beach Police Department, culminating in seven years as its chief.
Now, leading the nation’s largest sheriff’s department—nearly 17,000 strong—he emphasizes stability, accountability, and reform.
“I am proud to lead your Sheriff’s Department, the largest in the nation, with nearly 17,000 sworn and professional staff who courageously serve our communities in some of the most challenging situations,” Luna writes.
His tenure has seen measurable progress: homicides dropped 14% in the past year, with 2024 marking the lowest in five years. Overall, violent crime fell 3%, and property crime 2%. Luna’s reforms include a new Crime Strategy Unit, leveraging data and community ties, and a Metro system safety initiative that curbed fare evasion and narcotics-related incidents. His ban on law enforcement gangs and the creation of the Office of Constitutional Policing signal a commitment to trust and transparency, bolstered by public dashboards tracking crime stats, use of force, and personnel complaints.
Luna’s philosophy, shaped by witnessing both exemplary and flawed policing in his youth, centers on collaborative, community-based solutions. A graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute and Harvard’s program for senior executives, he holds a master’s in public administration from Cal State Long Beach.
Residing in Long Beach with his wife and two adult children, Luna seeks re-election to continue a mission he describes as “effective, respectful, empathetic, and constitutional.”
Oscar Martinez: The Challenger
Slogan: “No Politics, Just Public Safety”
Website: OscarForSheriff.com
X at: Oscar4LASheriff
Oscar Martinez, a Marine Corps veteran and longtime sheriff’s deputy, enters the race with a motto that cuts to the core: “No Politics, Just Public Safety.” His journey, detailed on his website, began as an immigrant child seeking a better life. Military service in Iraq and Afghanistan instilled in him discipline and sacrifice, values he carried into the Sheriff’s Department.
From jails to patrol to the chief’s executive aide, Martinez has seen the department’s inner workings, grounding his campaign in a call for integrity and trust.
“I came to the United States as a child, an immigrant in search of a better life,” Martinez reflects. “Growing up, I learned that success isn’t handed to you, it’s earned through perseverance, integrity, and a commitment to something greater than yourself.”
He critiques the current administration, arguing that Sheriff Luna has ceded too much ground to “unelected bureaucrats and anti-police groups,” weakening public safety. Martinez pledges to restore principled leadership, prioritizing deputies and residents over political agendas.
Living in Los Angeles County with his wife and two children, he draws on his faith and family to fuel a campaign focused on service and accountability.
Alex Villanueva: Number 33
Slogan: “Help is on the way.”
Website: AlexVillanueva2026.com
X at: AlexVillanueva33
Alex Villanueva, the 33rd Sheriff, is no stranger to the office, having made history in 2018 as the first challenger in over a century to unseat an incumbent. His website chronicles a 35-year career with the department, marked by roles as field supervisor, academy instructor, and watch commander. His motto, “Help is on the Way,” reflects a resolve to restore what he sees as a faltering institution.
“Sheriff Villanueva commanded the largest sheriff’s department in the nation, overseeing nearly 18,000 sworn and professional staff and managing complex public safety operations in one of the most diverse counties in America,” his campaign notes.
During his tenure, he tackled staffing shortages, expanded Mental Health Evaluation Teams, and strengthened emergency response capabilities. A veteran of the Air Force and National Guard, Villanueva holds advanced degrees, including a doctorate in public administration. His campaign emphasizes transparency—through town halls and public tools—and a return to operational strength.
As Los Angeles County stands at this crossroads, the 2026 Sheriff’s election offers voters a choice between continuity, reform, and restoration. Luna, Martinez, and Villanueva each carry the weight of the department’s storied past, yet their visions for its future diverge. In a county as sprawling and diverse as this one, the question remains: who will best uphold the “Tradition of Service” for the challenges ahead?
In Closing
The New Founders Journal will continue to chronicle their efforts, ensuring their voices are heard in a conversation too long dominated by division.
SOURCES | BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Eugene Biscailuz, Longtime Sheriff, Dies.” Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2007. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-21-me-then21-story.html#:~:text=A%20short%2C%20stocky%20man%2C%20Biscailuz,%2C%20Spanish%2C%20English%20and%20Latin.
“Los Angeles County Sheriffs, 1850–Present.” Los Angeles Almanac. Accessed August 4, 2025. https://www.laalmanac.com/history/hi704.php#google_vignette.