Nathan Hochman defeated incumbent progressive prosecutor George Gascón in the race for Los Angeles County district attorney as crime was seen as a top issue of the election cycle.
Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, campaigned as a "hard middle" candidate, rejecting both mass incarceration and the "public safety failure" of Gascón’s liberal policies, which Hochman said led to increased crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders.
"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."
A representative for Gascón's campaign did not immediately respond to The Associated Press' call for comment.
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The FBI's preliminary data for 2022 had predicted that violent crime dropped by a slim 2.1% from 2021-2022. The FBI updated the data in October, however, and found that violent crime actually rose by 4.5%.
During debates, Hochman spotlighted rising violent crime in the county, a trend also seen statewide and at the national level. He also received the support of local police unions despite Gascón’s previous service as a police officer.
The prosecutors' union called Hochman’s victory a "pivotal moment in the fight to return balance and accountability to the justice system."
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Gascón has faced two recall attempts as the state grew increasingly discontent with progressive policies. He is also facing a lawsuit from the union representing the prosecutors who work in his office for withholding information on a close ally in an alleged violation of the California Public Records Act (CPRA).
A Southern California native, Hochman emphasized his past prosecutorial experience as assistant U.S. attorney in California’s Central District. He has also practiced as a private defense attorney.
He previously ran unsuccessfully for California attorney general as a Republican, but was an independent in this race and describes himself as a lifelong centrist.
Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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