Alameda and San Mateo Elect California’s First Latina Sheriffs

History has been made in the San Francisco Bay area. In Alameda and San Mateo counties, voters have elected Hispanic women to lead their sheriff’s departments. In both races, the women ousted male incumbents.

Yesenia Sanchez, a 24-year veteran of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, has declared victory over Alameda Sheriff Greg Ahern. In San Mateo, Sheriff Carlos Bolanos has been beaten by San Mateo Sheriff’s Operation Captain Christina Corpus. Sanchez and Corpus will also be the first females to lead their respective departments.

The recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin dealt a blow to the progressive cause on June 7, but justice reform advocates are taking solace in Sanchez and Corpus' victories because both women ran on a platform of challenging the status quo and increasing transparency. 

Sanchez, who describes herself as a "proud Latina with Mexican roots,” has pledged to sign an order to stop aiding Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE except in the most extreme cases. Corpus has vowed to work with ICE only when absolutely necessary.

"We did the unthinkable," Corpus told KTVU. "We unseated incumbents that were part of the status quo that had a large war chest of money… There’s a lot of work to be done but I’m ready for the challenge." 

See more up-to-date election results here.