Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee will lead the rest of the board for another year after his fellow supervisors unanimously voted to keep him on as chair for a rare second term. 

The idea came from Supervisor Katrina Foley, who served as vice chair last year and was expected to be one of the leading candidates looking to take over his position before she pitched having both Chaffee and herself stay in their seats. 

“2026 is going to be a challenging year,” Foley said at the board’s Tuesday meeting. “I think continuity is important and I would enjoy the opportunity to serve with you again.”

Chaffee said he was “looking forward to a little more restful year,” but that he looked forward to using his last year in office effectively. 

“I would accept the position if so elected.” 

While largely a ceremonial post, the supervisors’ board chair does have a unique ability to impact the formation of the weekly public meeting agenda and oversees regional appointments of supervisors. 

While the entire board ultimately voted in favor of Chaffee and Foley, the first vote was not unanimous. 

Supervisor Don Wagner pitched having Supervisor Janet Nguyen take over as chair, highlighting she’d spent the most years on the board of supervisors including her stint on the board before she served as a state senator. 

There were expectations that Nguyen might have the votes to take over as chair despite a Democratic majority on the board.

Read: Santana: Next Chair of OC Supervisors is Likely a Republican Despite Democrat Majority 

“I would nominate the longest serving member of this board, though she took some time off to do some other things, that would be Supervisor Nguyen,” Wagner said. 

Nguyen didn’t speak during the vote, but abstained from supporting Foley and Chaffee on the first vote before ultimately voting in favor. 

Wagner also abstained on voting for Chaffee and Foley’s extended terms, but then reversed it after he lost. 

“You just caught at least me by surprise,” Wagner said. “I will move to make that vote unanimous.” 

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento voted in favor of Chaffee and Foley for both votes. 

Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.