2018 Orange County, California District Attorney election

Last updated

2018 Orange County, California District Attorney election
Flag of Orange County, California.svg
← 2014June 5, 2018 (first round)
November 6, 2018 (runoff)		 2022  →
Turnout42.9% (first round), [1] 71.0% (runoff) [2]
  Todd A. Spitzer.jpg No image.svg No image.svg
Candidate Todd Spitzer Tony Rackauckas Brett Murdock
First round191,346
35.2%		209,148
38.5%		121,818
22.4%
Runoff484,830
53.2%		425,764
46.8%		Eliminated
2018 Orange County, CA DA initial.svg
2018 Orange County, CA DA runoff.svg
Spitzer:     50–60%
Rackauckas:     30–40%     40–50%
District Attorney before election

Tony Rackauckas

Elected District Attorney

Todd Spitzer

The 2018 Orange, County, California District Attorney election took place on June 5, 2018, for the first round. Because no candidate received a majority in the first round, a runoff took place November 6, 2018, to elect the Orange County, California District Attorney. County-level elections in California are officially nonpartisan. Because no candidate received a majority, a runoff was held on November 6, 2018.

Contents

Incumbent District Attorney Tony Rackauckas is running for a sixth term. [3] Rackauckas was re-elected in 2014 with 73% of the vote in 2014.

In July 2017, Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer declared that he will challenge Rackauckas due to scandals within the Orange County District Attorney's office. [4]

In May 2018, former mayor of Brea Brett Murdock declared candidacy. [5]

Rackauckas has faced criticism for allegedly mishandling jailhouse informants, making it more difficult to convict and sentence defendants. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

On September 22, 2017, Scott Dekraai was sentenced to eight terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, one term for each of his victims and to seven years to life for attempted murder in a Seal Beach salon shooting. The jailhouse informant scandal allegedly involving Rackauckas made it impossible to seek the death penalty for Dekraai. [11] [12]

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint claiming the alleged widespread use of jailhouse informants by Orange County law enforcement officeholders has continued for decades. The United States Department of Justice and California Attorney General's office both launched probes investigating the jailhouse informant case. As of April 4, 2018, no charges have been filed against any Orange County law enforcement official. [13]

On April 26, 2018, a forum for candidates sponsored by conservative PAC Hispanic 100 was held. [14]

Assistant Orange County Public Defender Scott Sanders claims California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions have turned a blind eye to the use of jailhouse informants. Sanders discovered that more than 140 cases might have been mishandled due to the use of jailhouse informants. Sanders claims that it is the largest jailhouse informant scandal in United States history. [15]

On November 6, 2018, Spitzer, a Republican, defeated incumbent Republican Rackauckas, denying Rackauckas a sixth term.

Candidates

Declared

General election

Endorsements

Brett Murdock

U.S. Representatives

State-level officials

Other individuals

  • Fran Sdao, Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Orange County

Organizations

  • Costa Mesa Democratic Club
  • Democratic Party of Orange County
  • Orange County Young Democrats
  • Laguna Woods Democratic Club
  • Seal Beach Leisure World Democratic Club

[17]

Tony Rackauckas

U.S. Representatives

State Senators

State Assembly members

[18]

Todd Spitzer

Local-level officials

Other individuals

Organizations

[19]

Results

Orange County, California District Attorney election, 2018 [1]
CandidateVotes %
Tony Rackauckas (incumbent)209,14838.5%
Todd Spitzer 191,34635.2%
Brett Murdock121,81822.4%
Lenore Albert-Sheridan20,8903.8%
Total votes543,202 100.0%

Results by county supervisorial district

Rackauckas won all 5 county supervisorial districts by varying margins.

Results by county supervisorial district [1]
DistrictAlbert-SheridanMurdockRackauckasSpitzerTotal
Votes %Votes %Votes %Votes %Votes
13,2344.9%16,34424.8%25,84039.3%20,41331.0%65,831
25,4324.1%29,24822.2%53,59140.7%43,24532.9%131,516
34,0003.4%24,01520.4%44,83538.1%44,80538.1%117,655
43,6024.1%23,02026.5%31,14035.8%29,16933.6%86,931
54,6223.3%29,19120.7%53,74238.0%53,71438.0%141,269
Totals20,8903.8%121,81822.4%209,14838.5%191,34635.2%543,202

Runoff

Endorsements

Tony Rackauckas

U.S. Representatives

State Senators

State Assembly members

[17]

Todd Spitzer

State-level officials

Local-level officials

Other individuals

  • Bill Handel, talk radio host [20]
  • John and Ken, talk radio co-hosts of The John and Ken Show [20]
  • Harriett Salarno, Chairwoman of Crime Victims United of California
  • Nina Salarno, president of Crime Victims United of California
  • Ron Thomas, father of Kelly Thomas
  • Patricia Wenskunas, CEO of Crime Survivors
  • Paul Wilson, husband of Christy Lynn Wilson

Organizations

  • Crime Victims United of California
  • Hispanic 100 [14]
  • Orange County Professional Firefighters Association

Newspapers

[19]

Results

Orange County, California District Attorney election runoff, 2018 [2]
CandidateVotes %
Todd Spitzer 484,83053.2%
Tony Rackauckas (incumbent)425,76446.8%
Total votes910,594 100.0%

Results by county supervisorial district

Spitzer won all 5 county supervisorial districts.

Results by county supervisorial district [2]
DistrictRackauckasSpitzerTotal
Votes %Votes %Votes
161,29749.7%61,91950.3%123,216
2103,96949.7%105,02750.3%208,996
389,73944.5%111,71555.4%201,454
466,35044.7%82,24355.3%148,593
5104,40945.7%123,92654.3%228,335
Totals425,76446.8%484,83053.2%910,594

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rancho Santa Margarita, California</span> City in California, United States

Rancho Santa Margarita is a city in Orange County, California, United States. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master-planned community. The population was 47,853 at the 2010 census, up from 47,214 at the 2000 census. Although it is named for Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores, which was in San Diego County, the city limits fall within the borders of Rancho Mission Viejo. At 20 characters long, it is the longest city name in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Spitzer</span> American politician and lawyer

Todd Spitzer is an American attorney and politician serving as the district attorney of Orange County, California. Spitzer successfully ran for Orange County district attorney in 2018 against incumbent Tony Rackauckas. Spitzer had previously served as a deputy district attorney from 1990 to 1996 and, under Rackauckas, as assistant district attorney from 2008 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fullerton Police Department</span> Police department in Fullerton, California

The Fullerton Police Department of Fullerton, California, was established in 1904 when the city was incorporated. The Fullerton Police Department currently employs 153 sworn officers and 78 civilian employees. It has a budget of about $54.7 million. The current chief is David Hendricks. The department has a Uniform Division, a Service Division, and a Detective Division all commanded by officers in the rank of captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County Board of Supervisors</span> Five-member governing body of Orange County, California

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is the five-member governing body of Orange County, California, along with being the executive of the county.

Anthony Joseph Rackauckas Jr. is a former District Attorney of Orange County, California, and a former Superior Court judge.

Scott A. Steiner is a Judge of the Orange County Superior Court in California, former deputy district attorney, former chairman of the Orange Planning Commission, and former adjunct professor of California evidence and criminal procedure at Chapman University School of Law. He is the son of former Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman William G. Steiner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Seal Beach shooting</span> Mass shooting in California

On October 12, 2011, a mass shooting occurred at the Salon Meritage hair salon in Seal Beach, California. Eight people inside the salon and one person in the parking lot were shot, and only one victim survived. It remains the deadliest mass killing in Orange County history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States House of Representatives elections in California</span>

The 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, with a primary election on June 3, 2014. Voters elected the 53 U.S. representatives from the state of California, one from each of the state's 53 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other offices, including a gubernatorial election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States House of Representatives elections in California</span>

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, with a primary election on June 7, 2016. Voters elected the 53 U.S. representatives from the state of California, one from each of the state's 53 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other offices, including a presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 California lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 California lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the lieutenant governor of California. Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Gavin Newsom was ineligible to run for reelection due to term limits and ran for governor of California instead. Democrats Eleni Kounalakis and Ed Hernandez faced each other in the general election, as no Republican finished in the top two positions of the nonpartisan blanket primary that was held on June 5, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 California State Treasurer election</span>

The 2018 California State Treasurer general election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the State Treasurer of California. Incumbent Democratic Treasurer John Chiang did not run for re-election to a second term and instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in California</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on November 6, 2018, with the primary elections being held on June 5, 2018. Voters elected the 53 U.S. representatives from the state of California, one from each of the state's 53 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other offices, including a gubernatorial election, other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 California Attorney General election</span>

The 2018 California Attorney General election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the Attorney General of California. The 2014 election winner Kamala Harris was elected to the United States Senate during the 2016 Senate election; incumbent Democratic Attorney General, Xavier Becerra won election to a full term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 California's 39th congressional district election</span>

The 2018 California's 39th congressional district election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, with a primary election being held on June 5, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California</span>

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the 53 U.S. representatives from the state of California, one from each of the state's 53 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

Scott Loren Sanders is an American criminal defense lawyer and an advocate for both criminal justice and police reform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 California State Senate election</span>

The 2022 California State Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 8, with the primary election having been held on Thursday, June 7. Voters in the 20 even-numbered districts of the California State Senate elected their representatives. The elections coincided with elections for other offices, including the state assembly.

Grant Robicheaux is an American surgeon who appeared on an episode of the 2014 Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male. He received media attention in 2018 after he was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Orange County, California District Attorney election</span>

The 2022 Orange, County, California District Attorney election was held on June 7, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 California State Senate election</span>

The 2024 California State Senate election took place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with the primary election being held on March 5, 2024. Voters in the 20 odd-numbered districts of the California State Senate will elect their representatives. The elections coincided with the elections for other offices, including the state Assembly.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Voter nominated" (PDF). ocvote.gov. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "General Election - 11/6/2018" (PDF). ocvote.gov. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Despite scandals and doubts, Orange County district attorney wants another term, and a shot at vindication
  4. ↑ "Todd Spitzer will challenge Tony Rackauckas for Orange County district attorney post". Los Angeles Times . July 10, 2017. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Turmoil, passion surround major Orange County law enforcement races
  6. ↑ "'Failure of leadership' at the Orange County D.A.'s office led to informant issues, report says". Los Angeles Times . January 4, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ "After scathing report by panel he selected, O.C. D.A. Tony Rackauckas says he's staying put". Ocregister.com. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Inside the Snitch Tank". Ocregister.com. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ "OC Snitch Scandal". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Deputies take the Fifth, complicating yet another jail snitch case". Ocregister.com. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Scott Dekraai, Orange County's worst mass killer, gets life without parole for eight Seal Beach murders". Ocregister.com. September 23, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Judge rules out death penalty for Scott Dekraai in Seal Beach mass murder case". Ocregister.com. August 18, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  13. ↑ ACLU Accuses Sheriff, Top Prosecutor Of Rampant Misconduct In California’s Orange County
  14. 1 2 3 In Orange County DA's race, candidates' debate is elusive
  15. ↑ New Evidence In California Jail Snitch Scandal Raises Questions About State, Federal Probes
  16. ↑ "Lenore Albert-Sheridan" (PDF). ocvote.gov. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Endorsements". Brett Murdock for District Attorney. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Endorsements". Tony Rackauckas for District Attorney. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  19. 1 2 "Endorsements". Todd Spitzer for District Attorney. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  20. 1 2 News
  21. ↑ Endorsement: Spitzer for Orange County district attorney

Official campaign websites

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.