Los Angeles City Attorney Race Draws Three Candidates

John McKinney, a Los Angeles County prosecutor, and Marissa Roy, a deputy attorney general in the California Department of Justice, are both seeking the office. The race follows a data breach last month that exposed thousands of LAPD records online. The Los Angeles Police Protective League withdrew its endorsement of Feldstein Soto after the incident and directed support to McKinney.

Marissa Roy, 34, has stated she would operate the office as a public interest law firm focused on wage theft, renter issues, and homelessness. She has described the city attorney as both the lawyer for the city and the lawyer for residents. John McKinney has received endorsements from local law enforcement leaders and corporate contributions in recent weeks.

He has described Feldstein Soto as a bully and said her conduct has affected staff morale. Feldstein Soto, 67, has pointed to her experience as a former corporate lawyer and said the position requires more than on-the-job training. She has defended her record on public safety and modernization of the office.

Legal payouts by the city rose from $64 million in the mid-2010s to $294 million in the most recent fiscal year. Feldstein Soto attributed the increase to nationwide trends in large civil verdicts and cases that predated her term. She has also addressed a 2024 lawsuit filed by a former employee alleging retaliation and workplace issues.

The case remains pending, and Feldstein Soto stated the employee was terminated for improper outside employment. Roy has noted that the city attorney race typically draws low turnout and said her campaign is focused on explaining the office's role to voters ahead of the election.