Your guide to Merced County’s District 3 supervisor race
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Incumbent Daron McDaniel seeks a fourth term representing Merced County’s District 3.
- Luis Lara recently retired from his role as public safety officer with the CHP.
- Luis Lara emphasizes restoring government transparency, repairing roads.
Merced County Supervisor Daron McDaniel is seeking a fourth term representing District 3, an area that includes the city of Atwater.
McDaniel, who has served as the District 3 supervisor since 2015, is running against Luis Lara, a lifelong resident of the district who recently retired from his role as public safety officer for the California Highway Patrol and is currently a seargant overseeing personnel in Merced County. This is the first time in two election cycles that McDaniel has had a competitor.
Where is the district?
District 3 is located to the northwest of the city of Merced and includes the city of Atwater and the unincorporated communities of Winton, Beachwood-Franklin and McSwain.
Who are the candidates?
Daron McDaniel
McDaniel’s campaign has stressed his experience and commitment to fiscal responsibility, as well as his relationships with regional boards and local agencies.
His priorities, according to his campaign website, are fiscal responsibility, jobs and economic growth, safe communities, and agriculture and water.
McDaniel pledges to deliver balanced budgets every year, and emphasizes his track record of doing so and knowing “how to deliver results without making promises that can’t be kept.”
To support economic growth, McDaniel — a small-business owner prior to his roles in public office — has said he will work to expand Castle as a hub for jobs.
Castle has been a major focus for McDaniel, who developed a partnership with the Port of Los Angeles and said he has been “proud to help lead the transformation of the former Castle Air Force Base into one of the most strategic economic assets in the Central Valley.” The former Air Force base is now home to Merced County Human Services and a handful of small businesses, including an escape room and a taproom.
McDaniel has also supported the expansion of Cal Fire’s training and operations at Castle and has said he will continue to support law enforcement and first responders, as well as emergency training at Castle.
Luis Lara
Lara writes on his campaign website that he is “tired of business as usual” and said he wants to see the county make progress on issues including “restoring” government transparency and accountability.
Lara also said he will focus on supporting first responders.
“As a public safety officer myself, I know that safe streets and neighborhoods are the foundation of any thriving community. We need to ensure that our local first responders have the tools they need to keep our community safe,” Lara wrote.
His campaign highlights the need to invest in infrastructure, noting that many county roads are in extreme disrepair. “We need a plan, not more excuses,” Lara wrote.
While Lara also said he would focus on developing Castle, his interest is in developing its “full aviation potential” to make the former Air Force base an economic engine for the region.
Both candidates said they are committed to protecting water rights and agricultural resources.
Who else is supporting the candidates?
McDaniel has a long list of supporters, which includes local elected officials, community leaders, business owners and community members. Among his endorsements are Merced County Supervisors Jim Pacheco, Josh Pedrozo, Lloyd Pareira and Scott Silviera. He also has the backing of Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto.
Lara is backed by local law enforcement associations including the Atwater Police Officers Association, the CA Association of Highway Patrolmen and the Merced Police Officers Association. He also has the support of 13th District Rep. Adam Gray and District 27 Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria.
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 7:00 AM.
