Judges and Judiciary
Jul. 7, 2026
LA Judge Pat Connolly survives razor-thin reelection race
Judge Patrick E. Connolly narrowly won reelection after a campaign focused on his judicial discipline history, highlighting the rarity of competitive incumbent judicial races and California's increasingly contested bench elections.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Patrick E. "Pat" Connolly survived one of California's closest judicial elections, winning another six-year term by just under one percentage point, according to certified primary election results.
Incumbent judges rarely face serious opposition and even more rarely lose. Yet Connolly defeated Deputy District Attorney Paul A. Thompson by just 50.46% to 49.54%, despite endorsements from 75 judges, including Los Angeles Superior ...
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