The June 3 Primary Election is approaching, and local voters are tasked with replacing two longtime legislators who have represented and served Los Angeles for several decades.

A total of 18 candidates are vying to succeed U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who is retiring from Congress after 40 years of service. He announced in January that he would not seek a 21st term.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that if I was going to have a life after Congress, this is the time to do it,” Waxman said in a previous interview, adding that the time was right for someone else to take over and bring a fresh perspective to the 33rd Congressional District. “I am hoping that it will be a Democrat. I expect a Democrat.”

The candidates representing that party include educational equality advocate Zein Obagi, human rights attorney Barbara Mulvaney, producer/entrepreneur/historian Vince Flaherty, military officer/state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), defense counsel/entrepreneur David Kanuth, businesswoman and former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, public radio host Matt Miller, businessman/entrepreneur James Graf, social worker/professor Kristie Holmes and sports executive/filmmaker Michael Shapiro.

Three Republicans — criminal gang prosecutor Elan Carr, environmental health advocate Kevin Mottus and lawyer/CEO Lily Gilani — are running for the seat. Environmental technician Michael Sachs will represent the Green Party, and neighborhood council board member Mark Matthew Hurd is running on behalf of the Libertarian Party. Lawyer Tom Fox, television producer/director Brent Roske and author/entrepreneur Marianne Williamson are running without any party affiliation.

After deciding not to run for mayor of Los Angeles, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, 3rd District, announced his retirement in August 2012. His term will end in December.

“It was a very tough decision,” he said at the time. However, Yaroslavsky hopes to explore some of his other professional interests, such as teaching and writing. “I actually would regret not doing the other things I want to do.”

Eight individuals are seeking the position on the board of supervisors. They are writer/producer/consultant Eric Preven, laborer/artist Rudy Melendez, environmentalist Doug Fay, attorney/educator/mother Pamela Ulich, educator/business owner Yuval Kremer, councilmember/business owner John Duran, nonprofit director/businessman Bobby Shriver and college institute director Sheila Kuehl.

In the 28th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is hoping to fend off challenges from fellow Democrat Sal Genovese, a community services director, and real estate broker Steve Stokes, who does not have a party affiliation.

In the 34th District, U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra is running for re-election against community organizer Adrienne Edwards, a Democrat, and attorney Howard Johnson, of the Peace and Freedom Party.

U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) is running for another term in the 37th District. She is being challenged by author/management consultant Mervin Evans, a Democrat, and Republican investor/lender/entrepreneur R. Adam King.

In the state Senate, incumbent Sen. Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) is squaring off against fellow Democrat Peter Choi, a nonprofit president and CEO, and Republican business owner William Morrison.

In the 26th District, seven Democrats — school board member Ben Allen, attorney Barbi Appelquist, nonprofit organization director Betsy Butler, social justice attorney Sandra Fluke, mayor/education advocate Amy Howorth, California state surgeon Vito Imbasciani and television writer/attorney Patric Verrone — are running. Law professor Seth Stodder is running without party affiliation.

Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) is seeking re-election against Democrat Isidro Armenta, an education policy deputy, in the 30th District.

Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) is vying for re-election against Republican environmental attorney Bradly Torgan in the 50th Assembly District, and incumbent Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) is seeking a second term against small business owner Glen Ratcliff, a Republican, in the 54th District.

A new board member will succeed the late Marguerite LaMotte on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. Education policy advisor Alex Johnson, teacher/children advocate Omarosa Manigault, educator/Gardena council member Rachel Johnson, teacher/mother/coach Sherlett Newbill, retired educator/counselor Hattie McFrazier, retired principal/superintendent George McKenna and education consultant Genethia Hudley-Hayes are all running.

At the county level, 12 candidates are looking to replace assessor John Noguez, who is facing felony charges. They include Assessment Appeals Board member John Wong, L.A. county deputy assessor Frank Diaz Jr., deputy assessor Brilliant Manyere, appraiser Tracy Okida, L.A. County deputy assessor Omar Haroon, deputy assessor John Loew, head deputy district attorney John Morris, L.A. County deputy assessor Krish Kumar, councilman/business administrator Nestor Valencia, property assessment specialist Yvonne Austin, L.A. County deputy assessor Sandy Sun and Jeffrey Prang, special assistant, assessor.

Candidates hoping to replace retiring Sheriff Lee Baca area senior detective supervisor Lou Vince, assistant sheriff/councilmember Todd Rogers, retired sheriff lieutenant Patrick Gomez, retired sheriff commander Bob Olmsted, Long Beach Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell, retired undersheriff Paul Tanaka and assistant sheriff James Hellmold.

Several state offices are up from grabs. Gubernatorial candidates with no party preference include pscyhologist/farmer Robert Newman, minister/business owner Janel Hyeshia Buycks, small business owner Rakesh Kumar Christian, golf course operator Joe Leicht and “Bo” Bogdan Ambrozewicz. Democrats Akinyemi Agbede, a doctoral student, and incumbent Jerry Brown are running. Republicans seeking the office are Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, mayor/businessman Andrew Blount, real estate investor Richard Aguirre, businessman Neel Kashhari, business owner/engineer Glenn Champ and project funding CEO Alma Winston. Author/community organizer Luis Rodriguez is representing the Green Party, and author/nonprofit director Cindy Sheehan is running on behalf of the Peace and Freedom Party.

Incumbent Democrat Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is looking to retain his seat. Scientist/businessman/parent Eric Korevaar is the only other Democrat running. Father/software developer George Yang, entrepreneur David Fennell and small businessman/educator Ron Nehring are running as Republicans. Student Jena Goodman is running for the Green Party, security guard Amos Johnson is representing the Peace and Freedom Party and commissioner/engineer/businessman Alan Reynolds is a candidate from the Americans Elect Party.

Eight people are seeking the secretary of state office. They are political involvement educator Dan Schnur, no party preference; computer scientist/engineer Jeffrey Drobman, state Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), voting rights advocate Derek Cressman and state Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), all Democrats; educator/institute director Pete Peterson and California state employee Roy Allmond, both Republicans; and dad/designer David Curtis, Green Party.

Three Democrats — former Assembly speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles), administrator Tammy Blair and state Board of Equalization member Betty Yee — are vying for state controller. Republicans running are chief financial officer David Evans and Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin. Financial analyst Laura Wells is running on behalf of the Green party.

State treasurer candidates include state Controller John Chiang, a Democrat; businessman/CPA Greg Conlon, a Republican; and public banking author Ellen Brown, the Green Party.

In the attorney general race, incumbent Kamala Harris, a Democrat, is being challenged by attorney/doctor/businesswoman Orly Taitz, no party preference; retired state prosecutor Ronald Gold, attorney/rancher Phil Wyman, attorney/small businessman David King and John Haggerty, all Republicans; and Libertarian attorney Jonathan Jaech.

Incumbent Democrat Dave Jones hopes to retain his position as state insurance commissioner against Republican independent insurance agent Ted Gaines and public school teacher Nathalie Hrizi, of the Peace and Freedom party.

In the state superintendent of public instruction race, incumbent Tom Torlakson is being challenged by teacher/neighborhood council member Lydia Gutiérrez and educator/schools executive Marshall Tuck.

For voting information, www.lavote.net or www.sos.ca.gov/elections.