Voters in Boyle Heights and Eastside neighborhoods will weigh in on races for mayor, governor and other major races in the June 2 primary. But who’s running to directly represent these communities?
Boyle Heights Beat partnered with The Eastsider to bring you the local, county and state races that will appear on your ballot.
Here’s how to cast your vote in Boyle Heights and East LA.
See your LA Local voter guide here for more information on additional races.
Key 2026 dates
- April 23 – May 12: Voter information goes out from the state and counties.
- May 4: Mail-in ballots sent to voters by this date. Vote centers open. Find vote centers for L.A. County.
- May 5: Ballot drop boxes must be open. Find locations for L.A. County.
- May 18: Last day to register online to vote. Register here.
- June 2: Primary election day. If your vote-by-mail ballot is postmarked by election day and received within seven days, it will be counted. Track your ballot here.
- July 10: All primary results final.
- Nov. 3: General election day.
City Council District 1
The Territory
District 1 stretches from Westlake up through Chinatown and Elysian Park, and into Northeast L.A. It encompasses all or parts of Lincoln Heights, Angeleno Heights, Cypress Park, Echo Park, Glassell Park, Highland Park and Mount Washington. The area’s 106,634 registered voters is the second-lowest count among the 15 districts, according to the City Clerk. The district is represented by Eunisses Hernadez, who is seeking reelection for a second term.
The Candidates
Lou Calanche: The Ramona Gardens native was a political science professor at East Los Angeles College who went on to found a youth services nonprofit. She also served on the Los Angeles Police Commission.
Raul Claros: A former Red Cross executive who was raised in the district, Claros’ website details goals including enhancing community safety and cleaning the streets.
Nelson Grande: The Highland Park native and Franklin High School graduate is a business owner in Westlake and Pico-Union. He has pledged to bring in tech firms to help businesses navigate City Hall.
Eunisses Hernandez: The incumbent, part of an Eastside left-leaning bloc, is known for policies including reducing police spending, and halting sweeps of homeless encampments.
Sylvia Robledo: The Sycamore Grove resident served as a field deputy to Cedillo, and before that was deputy chief of staff to Councilmember Jan Perry. She has protested proposals to slow LAPD hiring.
Read more: Your LA Local Voter Guide: LA City Council District 1
LAUSD Board District 2
The Territory
District 2 includes nearly 300 schools and encompasses Eastside neighborhoods including East L.A., Boyle Heights, Highland Park, Echo Park and El Sereno. District 5 “dips” into the territory to cover Mt. Washington and Glassell Park, but then District 2 picks it back up in Los Feliz. Mónica Garcia represented the district from 2006-2022. Approximately 75,000 people voted in the June 2022 primary.
The Candidates
Rocio Rivas: The incumbent is vice president of the LAUSD Board of Education, and the parent of a district student. She won her seat in 2022, and previously was president of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council.
Raquel Zamora: The Boyle Heights native is an LAUSD pupil services and attendance counselor, and has spent two decades with the district. She finished third in a 2020 run for the District 14 City Council seat.
Read more: Your LA Local Voter Guide: LAUSD Board District 2
LA County Supervisorial District 1
The Territory
The massive district includes 2 million constituents and covers 269 square miles. It encompasses a large swath of Northeast Los Angeles, then runs east through East L.A. and extends to the San Bernardino County line. Hilda Solis has represented the district since 2014, and in 2022 she grabbed 76% of the 220,000 votes that were cast.
The Candidates
Elaine Alaniz: A disaster recovery specialist supporting communities through federally declared disasters, assisting renters, homeowners, and small businesses in recovery and rebuilding efforts. She also serves as a healthcare workforce specialist focused on strengthening workforce pipelines and expanding access to care through grant-funded initiatives.
Noel Almario: Women’s health advocate
David E. Argudo: A businessman and La Puente City Council member.
Maria Elena Durazo: The onetime farm worker rose to become one of the most influential people in the California labor union movement, leading HERE Local 11, and then helming the powerhouse L.A. County Federation of Labor. Since 2018 she has served in the California State Senate.
Annabella Figueroa Mazariegos: L.A. County employee
Read more: The candidates for L.A. County Board of Supervisors, District 1
52nd State Assembly District
The Territory
State Assembly District 52 spans most of East Los Angeles and Glendale, as well as the neighborhoods of El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Atwater Village, Silver Lake and Mount Washington.
The Candidates
Jessica Caloza: The current California State Assemblymember for District 52. Caloza has represented the 52nd district since 2024, after defeating fellow Democrat Franky Carrillo.
Andrea Lee Anderson: No ballot designation.
54th State Assembly District
The Territory
State Assembly District 54 encompasses the neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, part of downtown, Westlake, Koreatown, Pico-Union, and Chinatown. The District’s boundaries also include the cities of Vernon, Montebello and Commerce.
The Candidates
Mark Gonzales: The current California State Assemblymember for District 54 is running unopposed. Gonzales has represented the 54th district since 2024, after defeating fellow Democrat John Yi.
26th State Senate District
The Territory
District 26 encompasses Eastside neighborhoods including Los Feliz, Highland Park and Boyle Heights, and also extends to Koreatown and the city of Vernon. According to U.S. Census data, the district has approximately 943,000 residents, with Latinos accounting for 59% of the population. The district is represented by Maria-Elena Durazo, who opted not to seek reelection and instead run for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
The Candidates
Claudia Agraz: Construction project administrator.
Paul A. Bowers: Retired teacher and former Echo Park Neighborhood Council member.
Juan Camacho: Echo Park resident Camacho bills himself as a “proud immigrant” who serves as president of the LGBTQ+ civil rights organization Equality California Institute; he formerly led government and community affairs at FOX Studios.
Wendy Carrillo: A former seven-year member of the state Assembly, Carrillo lost a City Council bid last year. Raised in Boyle Heights and City Terrace, her resume includes securing funds for the upgrade and retrofit of the Eastside landmark L.A. County General Hospital.
Sara Hernandez: A former L.A. City Hall staffer, Hernandez is a housing and environmental attorney; in 2022, she was elected to the L.A. Community College Board of Trustees, and before that helped form the community group DTLA Strong.
Sang “Rev. Sam Shin” Mason: Pastor.
Maebe Pudlo: A self-described “decidedly progressive” candidate, Pudlo joined the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council in 2019, making her, according to her website, “the first drag queen elected to public office” in the U.S. She failed in three past runs for Congress.
Sarah Rascón: The Glassell Park resident has worked for Mayor Karen Bass, then-Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez, and the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority. She also has served on the East L.A. Planning Commission and was a board member of CicLAvia.
Read more: Immigration, public health are top concerns at Senate District 26 candidate forum in Boyle Heights
U.S. Congressional District 34
The Territory
The district has 755,000 residents and covers Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, El Sereno, Glassell Park and other neighborhoods. The median household income is about $64,000, and approximately 65% of the district is Latino. Jimmy Gomez has represented the district since 2017. He was re-elected in 2024 with 55.6% of the 189,000 votes.
The Candidates
Loren Colin: The Echo Park resident, a self described “lifelong independent,” worked in marketing before joining a technology startup and has served on the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. Money raised: $5,139 through Sept. 30, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Arthur Dixon: A community organizer, who says he has “slept on the street, gone hungry, and fought to survive,” promises a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every adult. Money raised: None reported to date.
Jimmy Gomez: The Eagle Rock resident, and former California Assemblymember sits on the House Ways and Means Committee. He founded and chairs the Congressional Dads Caucus and the Congressional Renters Caucus. Money raised: $610,152.
Angela Gonzales-Torres: The Northeast L.A. resident served as president of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council. Her top issues are “Housing for All” and “Economic Dignity & Security.” Money raised: $76,335.
Calvin Lee: The lone Republican in the contest, Lee also ran in 2024. He finished third in the primary. Money raised: None reported to date.
Rob Lucero: An Eagle Rock resident, Lucero has worked in state government, run a consultancy, and spent time as a senior advisor on Robert F. Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign. Money raised: $73,611.
