In a significant political shift for Los Angeles, District Attorney George Gascon lost his reelection bid to former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hochman.
Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and 2022 Republican candidate for California Attorney General, centered his campaign on a tough-on-crime platform, directly challenging Gascon’s progressive policies. His victory reflects growing voter concern over public safety and dissatisfaction with Gascon’s approach to criminal justice reform.
Gascon, who has held the position since 2020, has faced criticism for his progressive policies, which some say have contributed to a rise in crime across the county. His loss also coincided with California’s sweeping passage of Proposition 36, an initiative that will enact harsher penalties for theft and drug offenses and undo parts of a 2014 law that downgraded several non-violent felonies to misdemeanors.
Proposition received 70% support while 29.5% voted against it, with about half the ballots counted.
Despite two failed recall attempts, Gascon defended his record, highlighting his office’s prosecution of serious crimes and arguing that overall crime trends are improving. He maintained that his policies reflect a commitment to long-term public safety, with a focus on rehabilitation over incarceration.
But Hochman’s campaign gained substantial momentum throughout the election cycle, evidenced by his record-breaking fundraising efforts, amassing nearly $4 million by mid-September.
In contrast, Gascon, who previously received $2.5 million from billionaire George Soros in 2020, raised approximately $700,000 in the same period.
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Hochman’s support base included voters who believed that Gascon’s lenient stance on prosecuting misdemeanors and other offenses contributed to rising crime rates and diminished public safety in Los Angeles.
Although he ran a failed campaign for attorney general, Hochman still endorsed Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for the general election, and he previously chose not to vote for Trump in the past despite being a member of the same party.
