L.A. County judge loses reelection bid in dramatic race
Key takeaways
- Los Angeles County Judge Robert Draper, who faces misconduct allegations and health concerns, lost his bid for reelection in a rare defeat for an incumbent.
- Tal Khan Valbuena defeated Draper with more than 56% of the vote in the June 2 primary election.
- The California secretary of state still needs to certify the results.
Superior Court Judge Robert Draper, who sought reelection, outside the Ronald Reagan Federal Building in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) By Queenie Wong Staff Writer Follow June 13, 2026 9:20 PM PT 3 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Los Angeles County Judge Robert Draper, who faces misconduct allegations and health concerns, lost his bid for reelection in a rare defeat for an incumbent.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Tal Khan Valbuena defeated Draper with more than 56% of the vote in the June 2 primary election. Draper, an 84-year-old judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, captured roughly 43% of the vote, according to the L.A. County election results.