Nathan Hochman Defeats George Gascón in L.A. District Attorney Race After Tough Campaign

In the Los Angeles District Attorney race, incumbent George Gascón conceded to former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman after preliminary election results showed Hochman leading with 61.46% of the vote, compared to Gascón’s 38.54%. Gascón, who had focused on criminal justice reform during his first term, expressed pride in his achievements but acknowledged the voters’ decision, wishing Hochman success as the new D.A.

Hochman, who ran on a “tough-on-crime” platform, criticized Gascón’s policies as being too lenient and contributing to rising crime rates in the county. Hochman emphasized his commitment to improving public safety and representing all Los Angeles residents. Gascón, in contrast, highlighted his office’s work in exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals, prosecuting serious crimes, and pushing for police accountability.

The election became a referendum on public safety, with Gascón defending his record by pointing to declines in violent crime while acknowledging increases in property crimes. Hochman, however, argued that crime had worsened under Gascón’s tenure, citing data showing significant increases in violent crime and shoplifting across the county.

Throughout the campaign, both candidates faced criticism over their political affiliations, with Hochman having previously run as a Republican before becoming an independent, while Gascón had switched from the Republican to the Democratic party years ago. Despite Gascón’s initial lead in the March primary, he struggled to maintain support and ultimately conceded defeat to Hochman in the general election.