Villanueva and Luna expected to be candidates in November runoff election for Sheriff

Incumbent Sheriff Alex Villanueva and former Long Beach Police Department Chief Robert Luna projected to be the two candidates in the November runoff election for Los Angeles County Sheriff.

The Sheriff is currently leading the polls with 31.6% of the vote. Luna is about 5 points behind at 26.9%.

Villanueva was elected in 2018 as the 33rd Sheriff of L.A. County. He was with the department for almost 35 years prior to being elected.

Luna grew up in unincorporated East Los Angeles. He started his career in law enforcement at the Long Beach Police Department as a reserve officer in 1985 and was appointed chief in 2014, in a career that spanned 36 years at the department. 

CBSLA spoke with both candidates Wednesday about their campaigns. 

"There should be no surprise based on all the controversies and negativities surrounding this sheriff that he did not get the support he expected," said Luna. 

Villanueva said autonomy in the position is important as LA County Sheriff. 

"This is all about homelessness and crime, make no mistake about it," said Villanueva. "My opponent, if it becomes the retired chief, he's all about giving the office over to the Board of Supervisors."