'We Wish Mr. Luna Well’: Villanueva Concedes In Sheriff’s Race

LOS ANGELES, CA — Incumbent Sheriff Alex Villanueva on Tuesday conceded to challenger and former Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, who was leading the race to helm the nation’s largest sheriff’s department with 59.84 percent of the vote.

Luna has held a strong lead since Election Day and continued to lead by nearly 20 percentage points Tuesday. The results from last Tuesday's election currently stand at 987,730 votes for Luna, or 59.8 percent, and 662,893 for Villanueva, or 40.2 percent.

There are an estimated 655,300 ballots left to be processed, according to the clerk's office. Another update of the voting totals is expected to be released Tuesday afternoon.

“We wish Mr. Luna well,” Villanueva said. “Speaking truth to power is not without risks. I remember a politician that I met early on - they told me, ‘well, you can be a reformer or you can be re-elected.’ I’m proud to say I’m a reformer. I have no desire to abandon … my principals just to get re-elected.”

Luna conceded at the end of a news conference Tuesday, during which he presented highlights from his tenure and the ongoing investigation into alleged Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputy gangs. Villanueva, who has defied subpoenas issued by the Inspector General investigating the department, insinuated the investigation was a campaign tool but did not specify for whom.

“I’ve faced adversity throughout my career in law enforcement because I’ve always spoke truth to power and never batted an eye,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva's voice cracked slightly with emotion as he wrapped up his roughly 20-minute remarks, saying, "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."

Following Villanueva's concession, Luna issued a statement, starting with "Thank you, L.A. County."

"I'm deeply honored and humbled that you have elected me as your next sheriff. With your vote, you have entrusted me with a clear mandate to bring new leadership and accountability to the sheriff's department. And that's exactly what I will do.

"I want to offer my best wishes to Sheriff Villanueva and his family. And I look forward to working with the talented and courageous sworn and professional staff of the sheriff's department who are dedicated to keeping our communities safe."

City News Service contributed to this report.