George Gascón, the District Attorney of Los Angeles County, is facing a significant challenge in his bid for re-election. He has garnered eleven primary challengers, making it a highly competitive race. Gascón, who has been supported by the prominent left-wing billionaire George Soros, is known for his progressive approach to criminal justice, which some critics argue is too lenient.
During his tenure as the LA County DA, crime rates in his district have seen a significant increase, which has further fueled opposition against him. As a result, he is now facing a formidable lineup of opponents in the nonpartisan primary, including prosecutors from his own office who are vying to replace him.
Among those challenging Gascón are local prosecutors Jonathan Hatami and Eric Siddall, as well as former federal prosecutors Jeff Chemerinsky and Nathan Hochman. In order to secure a victory in the primary, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote. However, given the number of candidates and Gascón’s lack of popularity, it is unlikely that any one candidate will achieve this threshold. If no clear winner emerges, the election will proceed to a runoff in November, where the top two candidates will compete for the position.
Gascón, a member of the Democratic Party, is facing criticism from various sources for allegedly disregarding public safety and failing to take strong action against widespread crime. Critics argue that state laws, local regulations, and the supposed reluctance of law enforcement to follow through on cases are major obstacles to restoring law and order in the city.
As a result of Proposition 57, which was approved by California voters in 2016, every minor convicted in adult court must undergo an additional transfer hearing in juvenile court.
During the transfer hearing, it will be determined whether the individual should be tried as an adult. However, in many instances, Gascón’s office decided not to participate in these transfer hearings, resulting in the release of the inmate back into the community.
Last year, zero-dollar bail guidelines were implemented in Los Angeles County. These guidelines allowed individuals suspected of committing a range of crimes to be released without having to pay bail. As a result, many criminals arrested for offenses such as theft, assault, and vandalism, among others, are often set free.
Los Angeles County is experiencing an increase in bold smash-and-grab crimes that are impacting retailers. These policies, which are perceived as being lenient on crime, have faced criticism for contributing to the region’s crime problems.
Before becoming district attorney, Gascón served as the district attorney of San Francisco and as the chief of the San Francisco Police Department. Additionally, he has experience as the LAPD assistant chief and as the chief of police in Mesa, California.
Gascón is among the many prosecutors funded by Soros who hold positions across the country, including Alvin Bragg in Manhattan, Kim Foxx in Cook County, and Kim Gardener in St. Louis, among others. All of these prosecutors have been accused of being too lenient and overseeing a significant increase in crime rates.
