XPost: alt.los-angeles, talk.politics.guns, sac.politics   
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   From: nospam@ix.netcom.com   
      
   Nathan Hochman defeated George Gascón in the race for Los Angeles County   
   district attorney, unseating an incumbent known as the godfather of   
   progressive prosecutors.   
      
   Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, calls himself a “hard middle”   
   candidate who would reject both mass incarceration and the “public safety   
   failure” of Gascón’s tenure the past four years. Hochman previously ran   
   unsuccessfully for California attorney general as a Republican, but he was   
   an independent in this race and describes himself as a lifelong centrist.   
      
   He advanced out of a primary field of 11 challengers and spent most of the   
   campaign attacking Gascón policies that he says led to increased crime and   
   a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. During debates, he   
   spotlighted rising violent crime in the county since 2019, a trend also   
   seen statewide.   
      
   “The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is   
   enough of DA Gascón’s pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to   
   a safer future,” Hochman said in a statement early Wednesday. “As DA, I   
   look forward to representing all of the people, whether they voted for me   
   or not, since their safety will be my responsibility.”   
      
   Gascón conceded the race to Hochman and called him Wednesday, his campaign   
   said.   
      
   “The rightward shift across America last night is heartbreaking. Democrats   
   have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever and our   
   commitment will not waver,” Gascón said in a statement. “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.”   
      
   Hochman’s victory reflects growing discontent in the state with   
   progressive district attorneys who have pushed criminal justice reform.   
   Previously there were two attempts to recall Gascón that failed to qualify   
   for the ballot; San Francisco voters ousted one of the first reform-minded   
   prosecutors elected to office in 2022. Oakland voters were asked in   
   Tuesday’s election whether to recall their own district attorney Pamela   
   Price, another progressive prosecutor, but it was too early to call.   
      
   Gascón 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. Also Tuesday, voters approved a measure   
   to partly roll back that law, making shoplifting a felony for repeat   
   offenders again and increasing penalties for some drug charges.   
      
   It is unclear what implications Hochman’s tenure will have for Erik and   
   Lyle Menendez, who are serving life for the killings of their parents in   
   their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Gascón recently recommended resentencing   
   for the brothers, a step that could lead to their release if a judge   
   agrees.   
      
   Hochman has said he cannot form an opinion on the case without access to   
   prosecutors’ files, but would conduct his own review if he became district   
   attorney.   
      
   Despite Gascón being a former Los Angeles police officer, Hochman had the   
   support of local police unions. He was also endorsed by victims’ advocacy   
   groups; former district attorney Jackie Lacey, whom Gascón defeated in   
   2020; developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso; and more than 70   
   current and former county elected officials. Hochman raised nearly $4   
   million for the campaign.   
      
   Hochman’s victory was applauded by the prosecutors’ union, which in a   
   statement called it a “pivotal moment in the fight to return balance and   
   accountability to the justice system.”   
      
   A Southern California native, Hochman emphasized his past prosecutorial   
   experience as assistant US attorney in California’s Central District. He   
   has also practiced as a private defense attorney.   
      
   https://smdp.com/2024/11/07/hochman-elected-los-angeles-county-district-   
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