Progressive LA County DA George Gascon faces 11 primary challengers

Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon faces 11 primary challengers, including some of his current and former deputies, on Tuesday following two failed recall attempts aimed at ousting him over his soft-on-crime policies. 

If no candidate receives a majority of the votes in the nonpartisan primary, the top two vote-getters will move on to the election in November.  

Gascon, who was elected in 2020, survived two recall efforts after organizers failed to collect the necessary signatures to trigger a special election. 

The Los Angeles Times editorial board endorsed Gascon's reelection bid, stating that he has "firsthand knowledge of the criminal justice system" and seeks "the most fitting rather than the longest possible sentences."

Even members of his own office do not appear happy with his actions, as five of them are running against him. Gascon also faces challenges from three current and former Los Angeles County Superior Court judges as well as two current and former assistant U.S. attorneys, per NBC Los Angeles.

Gascon is still ahead of all other candidates in the primary, according to a poll in late January by USC Dornsife/Price Center for Urban Politics. While 15% of voters said they would support Gascon in the primary, 24% said they approve of the job he is doing while 51% disapprove, per the survey.

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