Nathan Hochman Defeats Incumbent George Gascón in Los Angeles County District Attorney Race

In a significant shift in the Los Angeles County justice system, Nathan Hochman has defeated incumbent District Attorney George Gascón in the recent election. Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, won with 61.5% of the vote, while Gascón secured 38.5%.

Hochman’s victory marks a rejection of Gascón’s progressive policies, which had been in place since Gascón took office in 2020. Gascón, known for his reforms aimed at reducing incarceration and addressing systemic issues within the justice system, faced criticism for policies that some argued led to an increase in crime. Hochman campaigned on a “hard middle” approach, promising to balance public safety with fair and proportional punishment for crimes.

Gascón had implemented several controversial policies, including limiting extra-long sentences for certain crimes, ending the prosecution of juveniles as adults, and ceasing to seek the death penalty. Despite his efforts to defend his record, citing statistics that showed drops in many crime categories, voters opted for a change. Hochman has pledged to revoke several of Gascón’s directives and ensure that punishments are aligned with the severity of the crimes committed.

Hochman’s campaign was supported by local police unions, victims’ advocacy groups, and several high-profile figures, including former district attorney Jackie Lacey and developer Rick Caruso. He raised nearly $4 million for his campaign and emphasized his experience as an assistant U.S. attorney in California’s Central District and as a private defense attorney.

The election outcome also reflects broader trends in California, where there has been growing discontent with progressive district attorneys. This is evident from the recent ballot measure that partly rolled back a 2014 law co-authored by Gascón, which had reclassified certain low-level crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.

Gascón conceded the race and expressed his pride in the work done during his tenure, while acknowledging the challenges ahead for Democrats. Hochman has stated that he will conduct his own review of several high-profile cases, including the potential resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are serving life sentences for the murder of their parents.