If you’ve been scrolling through a Los Angeles County ballot or searching for the political leanings of local judicial candidates, you’ve probably hit a wall trying to figure out if La Shae Henderson is a Republican or a Democrat. It's a fair question. In a world where everything feels hyper-polarized, we usually want to know what "team" a candidate plays for before we trust them with a gavel.
But here’s the thing: in California, judicial races are officially nonpartisan. That means you won’t see a "D" or an "R" next to a name like La Shae Henderson on the ballot. Honestly, that's by design. The idea is that judges should be beholden to the law, not a party platform. However, if you dig into the endorsements, the career history, and the policy stances, a much clearer picture emerges of where Henderson sits on the political spectrum.
The Nonpartisan Reality of the Bench
Technically, La Shae Henderson is nonpartisan. When she ran for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County (Office No. 97) in the 2024 election cycle, she didn't run as a representative of the GOP or the Democratic National Committee.
Judges in California are elected to six-year terms in county-wide elections. Because the role is about interpreting the law rather than making it, the state tries to keep the partisan noise out of the courtroom. But let’s be real. Nobody exists in a vacuum. While the office is "nonpartisan," the support systems behind candidates rarely are.
Why People Think La Shae Henderson is a Democrat
While she hasn't held a partisan office, Henderson’s support base and policy "vibe" lean heavily toward the progressive end of the Democratic spectrum. If you’re looking for a smoking gun to label her, her endorsements are probably the closest you’ll get.
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- The Culver City Democratic Club: They endorsed her.
- Progressive Groups: She was part of the "Defenders of Justice" slate, a group of public defenders running for judge seats backed by organizations like Ground Game LA and La Defensa.
- The Working Families Party: This is a minor political party that almost exclusively aligns with progressive Democrats. They were all-in on her candidacy.
- Local Progressive Leaders: She snagged endorsements from figures like L.A. City Controller Kenneth Mejia and Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez—names that are synonymous with the "left-of-center" movement in Los Angeles.
Because of these ties, many voters naturally associate her with the Democratic party. You won't find her at a MAGA rally. Her platform was built on "impartiality, fairness, and equity," which are often the calling cards of the modern progressive legal movement.
Her Background as a Public Defender
Before she decided to run for a seat on the bench, Henderson spent 18 years as a Deputy Public Defender. That’s a long time. In the legal world, there is often a "prosecutor-to-judge" pipeline that tends to favor a more conservative, "tough on crime" approach. Henderson represented the opposite of that.
Working in units focused on the Racial Justice Act and juvenile justice, her career was defined by defending the rights of the accused. She’s gone on record saying she wants to bring the "restorative style" of the youth justice system—which focuses on redemption over punishment—to the adult courts. This focus on systemic reform and alternatives to incarceration is a hallmark of the progressive wing of the Democratic party.
So, is she a Republican?
Basically, no. There is zero evidence in the public record, her donor lists, or her endorsements to suggest any alignment with the Republican Party. In a deep-blue area like Los Angeles, a candidate with her specific background (public defender, racial justice advocate, restorative justice proponent) would find very little common ground with the current GOP platform.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Judicial Labels
It is tempting to just say "she's a Democrat" and move on. But that’s kinda dangerous. Judicial candidates like Henderson often emphasize that they are "constitutionalists."
During her 2024 campaign, she noted that even if she socially disagrees with a law, it isn't her place to change it. This is a nuance often lost in the "Republican or Democrat" debate. A judge can have progressive personal values but still believe in a strict interpretation of the law as written.
The 2024 Election Results
In the November 2024 general election, Henderson faced off against Sharon Ransom. It was a classic matchup of different legal philosophies. Ransom, who had a background as a prosecutor, ended up winning the seat with about 62% of the vote.
Henderson’s loss didn't necessarily mean her "progressive" label was a dealbreaker; rather, Los Angeles voters in 2024 showed a slight tilt back toward candidates with prosecutorial experience in several judicial races.
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Practical Next Steps for Curious Voters
If you are trying to vet a judicial candidate and can't find a party affiliation, don't give up. Here is how you can actually find out where they stand:
- Check the "Slate" Cards: Look at who is sending you mailers. If a candidate is on a "Democratic" or "Progressive" slate card, that’s your biggest hint.
- Look at the "Defenders of Justice": If you see this name, you’re looking at a candidate focused on criminal justice reform.
- Read the Bar Association Ratings: The Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) rates candidates as "Exceptionally Well Qualified," "Well Qualified," "Qualified," or "Not Qualified." This tells you about their skill, not their party.
- Follow the Endorsements: Search for the candidate on the "Progressive Voters Guide" or similar sites to see who is putting money and reputation behind them.
Understanding someone like La Shae Henderson requires looking past a simple "R" or "D." While she technically remains a nonpartisan legal professional, her career and her allies place her firmly within the progressive reform movement.
To get a better sense of how these nonpartisan elections work in your specific area, you should head over to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk website. They provide the most accurate, up-to-date lists of candidates and their official statements for every election cycle.