Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has tested positive for COVID-19, the Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday evening, June 21.
Villanueva is experiencing mild symptoms and in “good spirits,” said Deputy Brenda Serna, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department.
The agency declined to immediately provide further information about the diagnosis.
Villanueva, running for re-election, likely will face former Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna in the November general election.
The latest results show Villanueva leading in the primary election race, with 452,802 votes (30.7%); vs. Luna’s 381,959 votes (25.9%).
Villanueva has been vocal about his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates for county employees, saying mandates led to an increase in deputies and personnel retiring early, resigning or otherwise taking leave from the department. Villanueva himself was vaccinated against COVID-19 and promoted the vaccine’s effectiveness, but acknowledged that many in his department disagreed with the mandate.
As of Tuesday morning, 5,115 Sheriff’s Department employees had tested positive for COVID-19, according to statistics posted by the agency.
