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.
Incumbent District Attorney Tony Rackauckas is running for a sixth term.Despite scandals and doubts, Orange County district attorney wants another term, and a shot at vindication 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.
In May 2018, former mayor of Brea Brett Murdock declared candidacy.
Rackauckas has faced criticism for allegedly mishandling jailhouse informants, making it more difficult to convict and sentence defendants.
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.
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.ACLU Accuses Sheriff, Top Prosecutor Of Rampant Misconduct In California’s Orange County
On April 26, 2018, a forum for candidates sponsored by conservative PAC Hispanic 100 was held.
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.New Evidence In California Jail Snitch Scandal Raises Questions About State, Federal Probes
On November 6, 2018, Spitzer, a Republican, defeated incumbent Republican Rackauckas, denying Rackauckas a sixth term.
Candidates Note: County elections in California are officially nonpartisan. The parties below identify which party label each candidate would have run under if given the option.
Declared Lenore Albert-Sheridan(Democratic Party) Brett Murdock, former mayor of BreaTurmoil, passion surround major Orange County law enforcement races (Democratic Party) Tony Rackauckas, incumbent District Attorney (Republican Party) Todd Spitzer, Orange County Supervisor (Republican Party)
General election Endorsements
Results
Results by county supervisorial district Rackauckas won all 5 county supervisorial districts by varying margins.
Results by county supervisorial district District Albert-Sheridan Murdock Rackauckas Spitzer Total # % # % # % # % Total votes 1 3,234 4.9% 16,344 24.8% 25,840 39.3% 20,413 31.0% 65,831 2 5,432 4.1% 29,248 22.2% 53,591 40.7% 43,245 32.9% 131,516 3 4,000 3.4% 24,015 20.4% 44,835 38.1% 44,805 38.1% 117,655 4 3,602 4.1% 23,020 26.5% 31,140 35.8% 29,169 33.6% 86,931 5 4,622 3.3% 29,191 20.7% 53,742 38.0% 53,714 38.0% 141,269 Totals 20,890 3.8% 121,818 22.4% 209,148 38.5% 191,346 35.2% 543,202
Runoff Endorsements
Results
Results by county supervisorial district Spitzer won all 5 county supervisorial districts.
Results by county supervisorial district District Rackauckas Spitzer Total # % # % Total votes 1 61,297 49.7% 61,919 50.3% 123,216 2 103,969 49.7% 105,027 50.3% 208,996 3 89,739 44.5% 111,715 55.4% 201,454 4 66,350 44.7% 82,243 55.3% 148,593 5 104,409 45.7% 123,926 54.3% 228,335 Totals 425,764 46.8% 484,830 53.2% 910,594
References
External links Official campaign websites Tony Rackauckas for District Attorney Todd Spitzer for District Attorney