Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County will be getting a new district attorney, with former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman handily defeating incumbent George Gascón, whose progressive policies swept him into office four years ago but made him a target of critics who accused him of being soft on crime.
Semi-official results from the latest vote tally Nov. 11 showed Hochman with 60.12% of the vote, and Gascón with 39.88%.
“The rightward shift across America … is heartbreaking,” Gascón said in a statement Nov. 6. “Democrats have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever and our commitment will not waver. Nevertheless, I have called Mr. Hochman and wish him the best as Los Angeles County’s next district attorney.
“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past four years and grateful to the communities who have been and will always be the heart of criminal justice reform.”
Gascón defended his record while in office, denying allegations that his policies have led to an increase in crime and insisting that statistics show actual drops in many categories. But Hochman disputed that claim and said he would ensure people serve appropriate punishment for their crimes.
“We’ll go back to just two things — the facts and the law,” Hochman told his supporters election night.
While the votes were still being tallied, he told his backers that “the voices of the residents of L.A. County have been heard and they’re saying enough is enough of George Gascón’s policies and they look forward to a safer future.”
The Association of Deputy District Attorneys, which represents county prosecutors, hailed Hochman’s victory as a “pivotal moment in the fight to return balance and accountability to the justice system and to prioritize public safety in a county that has seen a dangerous decline under the failed leadership of George Gascón.”
But Cristine Soto DeBerry, executive director of Prosecutors Alliance Action, issued a statement praising Gascón’s dedication to public service and said Hochman’s win does not mean the end of a more progressive approach to criminal justice.
“This election is in no way a rejection of reform,” DeBerry said. “If it were, Nathan Hochman wouldn’t have had to conceal his right-wing past and run on a more balanced approach to prosecution. Ironically, Hochman demonized D.A. Gascón while embracing many of his policies. Now, we’ll make sure he’s held accountable for the promises he made to pursue reform and a balanced approach.”
During a debate hosted by KNX News and the Los Angeles Times, Gascón highlighted his progressive policies — several of which he implemented after taking office in 2020 — such as limiting extra-long sentences for people accused of using a gun or being a gang member, prosecutions of juveniles as adults and no longer seeking the death penalty, though he later revised some of his policies.
But Hochman said such policies have led to an increase in crime across the county and said he would revoke several of Gascón’s directives.
Hochman touted his “hard middle approach” to crime, stating that it will not lead to mass incarceration but rather cases would be reviewed individually and punishment would proportional to the crime committed.
According to the California Department of Justice, violent crime is up about 8% from 2019 to 2023 countywide, but in Los Angeles violent crime decreased by about 6%.
Gascón survived two attempts to recall him, and during his tenure has been accused by 20 prosecutors of workplace retaliation.
Hochman said morale in the office is at a “all-time low,” accusing Gascón of creating “a dysfunctional office.”
Hochman touted what he calls his “Blueprint for Justice” that he says would “restore safety and justice to our county” and “restore the purpose of the District Attorney’s Office to fairly, effectively, and vigorously prosecute those who break laws in Los Angeles County based on the evidence and the law.”
