Eleven candidates are running for three seats on the Orange County Board of Supervisors on June 2. Two incumbents are running for re-election, and the other seat is open.
Although elections for the Orange County Board of Supervisors are officially nonpartisan, heading into the elections, media outlets reported that Democrats had a 3-2 majority on the Board and that all three Democratic-held seats were up for election in 2026. In 2022, media outlets reported that Democrats had won a majority on the board for the first time since 1976.
According to LAist, "The five county supervisors are some of the most powerful people in Orange County, deciding nearly $11 billion in spending each year on key government services, including law enforcement, infrastructure, public health and mental health. They also oversee much of the county’s social safety net, including operating county shelters and funding permanent supportive housing."
The three seats up for election are in District 2, District 4, and District 5. The races in District 4 and District 5 received the most media attention and generated the most campaign spending. In District 2, incumbent Vicente Sarmiento, Kimberly Davis, Nelida Mendoza, and James Wallace are running.
District 4
In District 4, Rose Espinoza, Fred Jung, Tim Shaw, Connor Traut are running. Incumbent Doug Chaffee is term-limited.
Espinoza has been a member of the La Habra City Council since 2000 and has served as mayor six times. In 1991, Espinoza founded Rosie’s Garage, an education nonprofit. Espinoza's campaign website said her priorities include expanding childcare subsidies, reducing public transit fares, and "fast-tracking affordable & mixed-income homes on public land and converting unused offices into housing." Espinoza is a Democrat. As of June 1, Espinoza's campaign website did not include a list of endorsements.
Jung has been a member of the Fullerton City Council since 2020. He also founded Junior All-American Bears, a nonprofit youth sports organization, in 2008. Jung's campaign website said, "My priorities are clear: ensuring our neighborhoods are secure with effective policing and emergency response, tackling homelessness with real solutions, and creating good local jobs." Ahead of the election, media outlets reported that Jung changed his party registration from Democratic to No Party preference. The Orange County Lincoln Club, Fullerton Firefighters Association, and the Police Officers associations of Fullerton, La Habra, and Placentia endorsed Jung.
Shaw was elected to the Orange County Board of Education in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. He also previously served on the La Habra City Council from 2008 to 2021. Shaw's other career experience includes working as the government affairs director for the Pacific West Association of Realtors, an adjunct professor of political science at Rio Hondo College, director of the Orange County Transportation Authority, and district director for state Sen. Bob Huff (R). Shaw ran for the Board of Supervisors in 2018 and lost to Chaffee 50.4% to 49.6%. On his campaign website, Shaw said, " I’m committed to standing up for you – fighting for lower taxes, fully funding law enforcement, and making sure our roads and infrastructure keep up with our growth." Media outlets have identified Shaw as a Republican. U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R), State Sens. Steven Choi (R), and Tony Strickland (R), the Republican Party of Orange County, and the California Republican Assembly endorsed Shaw.
Traut is the mayor of Buena Park and has been a member of the Buena Park City Council since 2018. From 2014 to 2018, he was a member of the Centralia Elementary School District school board. Traut's other career experience includes being a consumer protection attorney and a business owner. On his campaign website, Traut said, "I’m committed to preserving public safety, improving affordability, fixing our roads, reducing homelessness, strengthening county services, protecting our environment, supporting local businesses, and creating good paying jobs." Traut is a Democrat. Orange County Supervisors Doug Chaffee, Katrina Foley, and Vicente Sarmiento, the Orange County Democratic Party, and the Buena Park Police Association endorsed Traut.
Foley was first elected to the board in 2021. Before her time on the Board, Foley served as mayor of Costa Mesa and member of the Costa Mesa Council and Newport Mesa School Board. Her other career experience includes being an attorney and a businesswoman. Foley is running on her record. Her campaign website said, "As the incumbent Supervisor, Katrina Foley continues serving the people of Orange County while looking towards a 2026 re-election campaign. Her accomplishments include: advocating for small businesses, championing climate action, creating solutions to reduce homelessness, improving the access and quality of mental healthcare, and increasing neighborhood safety." Media outlets have identified Foley as a Democrat. U.S. Reps. Mike Levin (D), Linda Sanchez (D), Dave Min (D), the Democratic Party of Orange County, and the California Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Foley.
Dixon is a Republican member of the California Assembly. She was first elected to the Assembly in 2022. Dixon's other career experience includes working at Avery Dennison, including as director and vice president of corporate communications, senior vice president of communications and corporate affairs, and chief communications officer. Dixon is running on her record as a state legislator. Her campaign website said that as a supervisor, she will "fight to streamline permitting and regulations, allowing businesses to grow. She will also advance housing and economic development policies that reflect local priorities and ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent responsibly. She believes government must be accountable, transparent, and focused on solutions that improve the quality of life for every individual living and working in Orange County." Orange County supervisors Doug Chaffee, Don Wagner, Janet Nguyen, and the Republican Party of Orange County endorsed Dixon.
Orange County is also holding primaries for superior court judges, county board of education, county superintendent of schools, county assessor, county auditor-controller, county clerk-recorder, and county treasurer-tax collector on June 2. Candidates can win outright with a majority of the vote in the primary. If no candidate receives a majority, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election scheduled for Nov. 3.