The most important 2026 LA political race you haven’t heard about

Most people in Los Angeles County can name the mayor of LA. Fewer can name their county supervisor
— the office for which I’m running in 2026.

People barely know who their supervisor is. That’s not just a gap in awareness, it’s a serious problem.

Because while the spotlight is often on high-profile city races, the real power that shapes daily life across this region sits with the LA County Board of Supervisors.

If you care about public safety, homelessness, disaster response, small businesses, or how your tax dollars are spent, then the supervisor’s race should matter to you more than any other on the ballot.

Here’s why:

LA County is not a small jurisdiction. It serves roughly 10 million residents, making it larger than most states. And the Board of Supervisors controls a massive budget, which was almost $50 billion in the last fiscal year.

Metro Board members from left: Lindsey Horvath, Kathryn Barger, Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker and Hilda L. Solis in 2024. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

That’s more than three times larger than the City of Los Angeles budget of about $14 billion.

That’s not theoretical money. That’s taxpayers’ money, allocated toward law enforcement, fire response, public health, mental health services, housing programs, and infrastructure that directly impacts your community.

So the office of supervisor isn’t a ceremonial role. It’s operational power.

While the mayor of LA governs only the city, a county supervisor — anywhere in California — has authority that stretches far beyond city lines.

The decisions made at the LA County level influence 88 cities and vast unincorporated areas, places where residents rely entirely on county services for everything from policing to road maintenance.

And yet, despite that reach, the supervisor’s race is consistently overlooked.

That lack of attention creates a dangerous dynamic: power without scrutiny.

When voters don’t fully understand the authority of this role, accountability weakens. Policies can be implemented without meaningful public input. Billions can be spent without clear outcomes.

And when systems fail, whether it’s homelessness programs that don’t deliver results, public safety concerns, or breakdowns in emergency response, residents are left frustrated, often without realizing where those decisions originated.

Let’s take public safety as an example. The county plays a major role in funding and oversight for the Sheriff’s Department, jails, and alternative diversion programs. Decisions about staffing, training, and resource allocation are not abstract; they directly affect response times, community safety, and the ability of law enforcement to do its job effectively.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors: Janice Hahn, Kathryn Barger, Sheila Kuehl, Hilda L Solis, and Holly J. Mitchell in November 2022. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Or consider homelessness. Billions of dollars flow through county systems and agencies tasked with addressing one of the most visible crises in Los Angeles. How that money is spent, what strategies are prioritized, and how success is measured — all of that is influenced at the county level. If those strategies aren’t working, it’s the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors to course-correct.

Then there’s disaster preparedness and recovery, something many residents don’t think about until it’s too late. When wildfires hit or emergencies unfold, the effectiveness of the response is not decided in the moment. It’s determined long before, through planning, funding, and leadership decisions made at the county level.

These are life-impacting responsibilities.

And yet, ask the average voter what a county supervisor does, and you’ll likely get a vague answer — if any at all.

That disconnect is exactly why this race matters so much.

Because when people aren’t paying attention, the system doesn’t feel pressure to perform.

The reality is, the supervisor’s office has the ability to shape policy, direct funding, and oversee departments that touch nearly every aspect of daily life.

From the condition of your local parks to the effectiveness of mental health services, from how quickly roads are repaired to how small businesses are supported or regulated — the ripple effects of this role are everywhere.

And unlike federal or even some state-level politics, these decisions are close to home. They are immediate. They are tangible. You feel them in your neighborhoods, your businesses, and your quality of life.

This is not about partisanship. It’s about performance.

It’s about whether your government is delivering results, managing resources responsibly, and putting residents first.

For too long, the supervisor’s race has been treated like an afterthought, overshadowed by more visible campaigns that don’t carry the same day-to-day impact.

That needs to change, now.

Because if you want safer communities, effective homelessness solutions, stronger support for small businesses, and a government that is actually accountable, then the race for county supervisor is too important to ignore.

Tonia Arey is a candidate for LA County Supervisor in the 3rd district, covering much of the northwestern portion of the county.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters