Political Party Switch by Former LA Sheriff

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party after being a registered Democrat for over 40 years. He cited reasons related to faith, family, and freedom. Villanueva lost his re-election campaign in 2022 to Robert Luna. He became more conservative over time, standing up to the Black Lives Matter movement and adopting a tough stance against rising crime. Villanueva also opposed COVID-19 restrictions like beach closures and mask mandates.