Nathan Hochman has unseated Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in a closely watched election, ending Gascón’s term as a the godfather of progressive prosecutors.
The result could signal a shift in voter sentiment toward stricter law enforcement policies as crime concerns dominate Californian politics.
Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, has positioned himself as a “hard middle” candidate, distancing himself from both extreme incarceration measures and what he termed the “public safety failure” of Gascón’s four-year administration.
His campaign focused on rolling back Gascón’s reforms, which he argued allowed violent crime to rise unchecked across the county.
“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.”
Nathan Hochman, and independent candidate for Los Angeles County District Attorney, talks during a news conference in Los Angeles, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. Hochman campaigned as a “centrist” candidate, focused on balancing public safety with fair justice and rejecting his opponent’s more lenient policies.
AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,File
What Led to Gascón’s Defeat in California?
Gascón’s time as Los Angeles County District Attorney focused on criminal justice reform.
He coauthored California’s Proposition 47, a 2014 ballot measure reclassifying certain low-level drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.
Penalties were reduced for some nonviolent crimes, often favoring rehabilitation over long sentences. Gascón policies included not seeking the death penalty, reclassifying some felonies as misdemeanors, and limiting charges for juveniles and low-level offenders.
However, his policies, particularly on crime reclassification, have faced some criticism amid rising crime concerns statewide.
According to an August 2024 poll by the Los Angeles Times, Hochman had gained traction among a broader spectrum of voters increasingly wary of Gascón’s approach, with support from police unions and victims’ advocacy groups.
At this time 45 percent of those polled said they’d vote for Hochman.
His desire to stop his opponent’s “social experiment” approach to ensuring the state’s law and order has proved to be even more of a success—as of Wednesday morning he has secured 61.5 percent of the vote, with quite some way to go before the count is complete.
Hochman’s campaign labored on Los Angeles’ rise in violent crime, citing concerns from residents and law enforcement over Gascón’s policies, which he claimed reduced accountability for offenders.
He criticized Gascón’s handling of juvenile cases, arguing that a lack of consequences for young offenders had contributed to a “breakdown” in public safety.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón speaks to members of the media in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. His supporters saw him as a progressive leader addressing systemic issues, while opponents viewed…
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón speaks to members of the media in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. His supporters saw him as a progressive leader addressing systemic issues, while opponents viewed his reforms as too lenient.
AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File
‘People Want Easy Answers to Hard Problems’
Voters across California appear to be pushing back against reform-minded district attorneys.
In 2022, San Francisco voters recalled District Attorney Chesa Boudin, one of the first prosecutors elected on a progressive platform. The former public defender was ousted after less than three years in office.
During this time he eliminated cash bail and set up a wrongful conviction unit.
Even though violent crime increased, homicides did not, dominating the headlines and feeding a sense of unease.
“People have been just completely bombarded by ads and years of fear mongering and sensationalism in the media about ‘rising crime’ and ‘San Francisco being unlivable’,” Emily Lee, co-director of San Francisco Rising Action Fund, a racial justice group, told The Guardian shortly after Boudin was recalled.
“People want easy answers to hard problems, like homelessness and the drug overdose crisis, and they want something to latch onto.”
In this election, Hochman received endorsements from influential figures and organizations, including the Los Angeles police union, former District Attorney Jackie Lacey, developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, and more than 70 current and former county officials.
Additionally, voters approved a measure to partially reverse Proposition 47, allowing repeat offenders to face felony charges for shoplifting and increasing penalties for certain drug crimes.
Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit with defense attorney Leslie Abramson, right, in Beverly Hills Municipal Court during a hearing, Nov. 26, 1990. Doubt has been cast over the brother’s possible release proposed by outgoing California District Attorney George Gascón, famed for his progressive policies.
AP Photo/Nick Ut, File
What’s Next for Los Angeles Under Hochman?
One key policy decision that has received a lot of publicity in recent weeks is the potential pardoning of the Menendez brothers.
Following the release of super-producer Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series Monsters, Gascón’s pleaded for Gov. Gavin Newsom to grant clemency to Erik and Lyle Menendez, two convicted murderers who killed their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989.
The success of the series has highlighted that this was likely in self-defense following years of child abuse. Hochman’s victory could now complicate the brothers’ push for release from the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego.
During last month’s debate, Hochman criticized Gascón’s “suspicious” timing in taking up the case. With Hochman set to take office ahead of the Menendez brothers’ Dec. 11 resentencing hearing—which could take them closer to release from their 1996 sentences—the incoming D.A. is expected to thoroughly review the case.
“The era of D.A. Gascón’s policies is over,” said Hochman. “We need accountability to ensure a safer Los Angeles for everyone.”
