LAUSD’s 2026 Filing Period Is Over — Here’s Who Actually Stepped Up

“Running for office is important, and you don't really need more than to be right on the issues, and to be able to articulate what it is you believe.”

— Matt Gonzalez

On June 2, 2026, Los Angeles is scheduled to hold a primary election for Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller, odd-numbered City Council offices, and the even-numbered LAUSD School Board districts. If any candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote, they will be declared the winner. Otherwise, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff in the November 3rd general election.

During the filing period from February 2 to February 7, 2026, aspiring candidates for offices in Los Angeles were required to file Declarations of Intent with the City Clerk to circulate nominating petitions. For the LAUSD races, all previously announced candidates followed through during the filing period. They were joined by three candidates who had not publicly declared before filing week.

A breakdown by board district, including updates to financial disclosures:

Board District 2:

In addition to Rocio Rivas (Boardmember/Educator/Parent) and Raquel Zamora (Public School Teacher), Joseph Quintana (Executive/Education Advocate) will also be circulating petitions in hopes of appearing on the June ballot. Candidates must submit 500 valid signatures from registered voters within Board District 2 and pay a $300 filing fee. Alternatively, the fee may be waived by submitting 1,000 valid signatures.

None of the candidates in this district filed new financial disclosures during last week’s filing window. To date, Rivas is the only candidate who has reported receiving donations.

Board District 4:

Going into the Declaration of Intention filing period, it appeared Nick Melvoin (Educator/School Boardmember) might run unopposed. However, by the close of filing week, two challengers had emerged.

If successful in his petitioning efforts, Ankur Patel (Teacher/Outreach Director) will appear on the LAUSD School Board ballot for the second time. In 2015, he was part of a field of challengers that held Tamar Galatzan’s share of the vote below 50%. In the resulting runoff, Scott Schmerleson defeated the incumbent. Patel later served on Schmerelson’s staff during part of his first term.

On the final day of filing, Benjamin-Shalom “Bo” Rodriguez declared his intention to circulate petitions. He listed “Educator/Artist/Professor” as his ballot designation.

As with Board District 2, no new financial disclosures were filed during the period.

Board District 6:

With the filing window closed, only the two candidates who had previously registered with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission declared their intention to file for the June 2, 2026, ballot. Incumbent Board Member Kelly Gonez and longtime special education activist John 'J.P.' Perron will face off in a winner-take-all battle.

During the past week, both candidates have filed financial disclosure reports. Gonez reported raising $109,959, including 43 donations of $1,500 each—the maximum allowed by law in this cycle. These donors include charter school supporter Bill Bloomfield. His wife, Susan Bloomfield, contributed an additional $1,500. The couple lists their residence as Park City, Utah.

While corporations are generally prohibited from contributing to political campaigns, Telacu Industries Inc appears as one of the $1,500 donors to Gonez’s campaign. I reached out for comment through the campaign’s Facebook page, as this could have been an error in the way the information was entered, but I had not received a response at the time of publication.

Running a more grassroots campaign, Perron reported 13 donations totaling $6,170. None of his donors contributed at the $1,500 maximum level.

What Comes Next:

The filing window is closed. Now comes the hardest part.

When I ran in LAUSD elections in 2015 (in the same election as Patel) and again in 2017, the process of gathering valid signatures was the task that came close to breaking me both times. It begins with a submission deadline that, from day one, feels like it is quickly closing in. Then there is always the uncertainty over which signatures will ultimately be declared invalid. That experience gives me a deep appreciation for what candidates are facing right now.

In both of my races, I ultimately crossed the finish line and earned a place on the ballot. But those outcomes are never guaranteed. Some candidates, despite weeks of work, will not clear that hurdle.

For the candidates hoping to run in June, the next few weeks will determine whether their ideas ever reach a ballot. If you encounter one of them between now and March 4th, remember that they are putting their lives on hold to do what they believe is necessary to improve education for our children.

If you do not live in a candidate’s district or your voter registration is not current, do not sign their petition. You are not doing them any favors; the City Clerk will catch it and remove a signature the candidate was counting on.

Wanting to confront the issues facing the LAUSD is only the beginning. Getting on the ballot is the first test of any campaign.