L.A. County district attorney’s race is a political and ideological battle. Here’s what you need to know
Los Angeles County voters will decide Tuesday one of the most pivotal races for district attorney in years, a political and ideological showdown that could bring major changes to the criminal justice system.
The candidates
Jackie Lacey, the two-term incumbent who oversees the office she’s worked in since the late 1980s, has long tried to improve treatment for mentally ill defendants and tried to position herself as a reformer on other issues. But her reputation is that of a punishment-first prosecutor. While she’s beloved by the law enforcement community, Lacey’s tenure has been marked by a perceived hesitance to charge powerful figures and police officers who use deadly force, earning her the scorn of local activist groups.
George Gascón, the former San Francisco district attorney and assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, has emerged as one of the leaders of a movement to elect progressive prosecutors, aiming to lower crime while reducing the number of people affected by the criminal justice system. His ideas have been hailed by some, but a surge of property crimes in San Francisco has led detractors to claim his election in L.A. would endanger public safety.
Rachael Rossi is a former public defender who says her experience allows her to better identify those who need help rather than jail time.
The issues
Primer: How Jackie Lacey’s and George Gascón’s time in office shapes the L.A. County D.A.’s race
Lacey and Gascón combine for more than 60 years of experience in law enforcement, yet their visions to run the nation’s largest local prosecutor’s office couldn’t be more different. The Times reviewed crime data, filing rates and other metrics to compare their respective terms in Los Angeles and San Francisco
Money: Police unions, justice reformers battle for dollars in bitter L.A. County D.A. race
The donations represent the political canyon between Lacey and Gascón — law enforcement unions on one side, progressive donors on the other.
Policy: In Los Angeles County D.A.’s race, it’s reform vs. tradition. Where does each candidate stand?
From homelessness to the death penalty, the three candidates have very different views on the issues.
More coverage
Candidates trade punches in distruptive debate.
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