By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman‘s last-minute entry into the Los Angeles mayor’s race made headlines this weekend, but the county’s largest city is far from the only one heading to the polls for mayoral elections in 2026.
Raman, who represents the 4th Council District covering areas from the Hollywood Hills to the San Fernando Valley, announced her candidacy Saturday — just hours before the noon filing deadline for the June 2 primary. The progressive councilmember, who chairs the City Council’s Housing and Homelessness Committee, joins incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and a crowded field that includes reality TV personality Spencer Pratt, tech entrepreneur Adam Miller, and community organizer Rae Chen Huang, among others.
But while Raman’s late entry dominated weekend news coverage, at least four other LA County cities are also gearing up for mayoral contests on the same June 2 primary date — with filing deadlines rapidly approaching.
Long Beach: Richardson Seeks Second Term
In Long Beach, Mayor Rex Richardson is seeking a second term as the city’s first Black mayor. According to the city’s unofficial candidate list updated January 27, Richardson faces potential challenges from Lee Goldin, Rogelio Martinez, and Terri Rivers, though official candidate filing doesn’t begin until February 9 and runs through March 6. No major challenger has announced a formal campaign.
Compton: Four-Way Contest Brewing
The race in Compton appears more competitive, with Mayor Emma Sharif facing challenges from at least three city councilmembers, potentially making it a referendum on City Hall dysfunction.
According to 2UrbanGirls, which has extensively covered the race, Sharif has raised over $31,000 during the January 2025 through June 2025 reporting period. District 3 Councilmember Jonathan Bowers has reported contributions of more than $7,000 during the same period, while District 2 Councilmember Andre Spicer reported raising $2,500.
Spicer, who announced his candidacy in November 2025, received a significant boost in January 2024 when he secured a $90,000 campaign contribution from music mogul Andre “Dr. Dre” Young for his mayoral bid, according to 2UrbanGirls. It remains unclear whether Dr. Dre will provide additional support.
A fourth candidate, Bishop L.J. Guillory, the city’s public safety chair, entered the race in December 2025 with an unusual pledge to serve without a salary if elected and to refuse using a city credit card, according to 2UrbanGirls.
The race unfolds amid City Hall controversies over the city attorney transition and allegations that Councilman Spicer used city credit cards, according to 2UrbanGirls.
The filing deadline for Compton is estimated at March 6, 2026, though the city has not yet posted official candidate information on its website.
Torrance: Rare Challenge to Sitting Mayor
In Torrance, Councilmember Sharon Kalani is mounting a challenge to incumbent Mayor George Chen. Kalani announced her candidacy in March 2025 with the campaign slogan “Back to the Business of Torrance,” criticizing what she characterizes as Chen’s “whimsical projects,” particularly the proposed El Camino Village annexation, which she said would cost $27 million in startup costs and $11 million per year in ongoing expenses. The filing deadline is estimated at March 6.
Avalon: Small Island, Big Election
On Catalina Island, the tiny city of Avalon is preparing for its mayoral election with a filing period that opened February 9 and runs through March 6. As of late January, no candidates had announced their intentions to run. The mayor’s position carries a two-year term, shorter than the four years for city council seats.
In a quirk of small-town democracy, Avalon made headlines in 2022 when a mayoral race ended in a tie and was decided by drawing names from a hat, with Michael Ponce defeating Oley Olsen in the unusual tiebreaker.
Whittier held its mayoral election earlier, on April 14, with incumbent Joe Vinatieri facing Christopher Anaya, James Becerra, and Isaiah Leslie Leon Savage. That election’s filing deadline closed January 16.
Notably, Inglewood will hold its mayoral election on November 3, 2026, not in the June primary. According to 2UrbanGirls, Mayor James T. Butts Jr. is seeking an unprecedented fourth term in that race. Butts raised $52,150 during the January through June 2025 reporting period, according to 2UrbanGirls reporting.
