Progressive Los Angeles DA George Gascón ousted by voters over failed criminal justice reform policies
Californians fed up with soaring crime have overwhelmingly voted to replace Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, the so-called godfather of progressive prosecutors.
Gascón — who immediately introduced sweeping criminal justice reforms when elected in 2020 — got less than 40% of the vote as he lost to Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor who campaigned against the controversial DA’s “public safety failure” during his four years in office.
“The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascón’s pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future,” Hochman said in a statement early Wednesday.
“As D.A., I look forward to representing all of the people, whether they voted for me or not, since their safety will be my responsibility,” he promised.
Gascón has yet to comment on the race.
During his campaign, Hochman, who was predicted to win, emphasized the rising violent crime in the county, a trend also seen statewide and at the national level.
Violent crime jumped 8% in Los Angeles County from 2019 to 2023, according to California Department of Justice Data, the Los Angeles Times reported — although it rose more in other California counties with traditional prosecutors.
Gascón survived two recall attempts as the state grew increasingly unhappy with his soft-on-crime policies, including eliminating cash bail, not seeking the death penalty and an unwillingness to try juveniles as adults.
He also co-authored a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2014 that reclassified certain low-level drug and property crimes as misdemeanors instead of felonies. On Tuesday, voters approved a measure to partly roll back that law, once again making shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and increasing penalties for some drug charges.
His policies have drawn fierce backlash, even from those working in his office. He is also being sued by more than 20 of his prosecutors, who claim they were demoted or otherwise retaliated against for challenging his policies, according to the LA Times.
The prosecutors’ union called Hochman’s victory a “pivotal moment in the fight to return balance and accountability to the justice system.”
Hochman had won the support of local police unions, despite Gascón being a former Los Angeles police officer. He was also supported by victims’ advocacy groups, former District Attorney Jackie Lacey, whom Gascón defeated in 2020, and more than 70 current and former county elected officials.
As votes were rolling in Tuesday night, he said he would “make crimes illegal again,” the LAist reported.
On the campaign trail, he vowed to allow prosecutors to once again seek the death penalty in certain circumstances. He’s also promised that his office will pursue wider sentencing enhancements, which can add prison time for crimes related to gang activity, according to the LA Times.
Hochman previously ran unsuccessfully for California attorney general in 2022 as a Republican, but the self-described lifelong centrist was an independent in this race.
With Post wires
