Progressive LA County DA George Gascon leads crowded primary

Progressive Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon is ahead in a crowded nonpartisan primary field that includes 11 challengers as Nathan Hochman, who ran for California attorney general as a Republican in 2022, is close behind.

With 50% of ballots counted, Gascon is first with 21.4% of the vote, according to The Associated Press, while Hochman is at 17.7%.

The primary also included five members of Gascon's office, including child abuse prosecutor Jonathan Hatami, who is currently in third place with 13.4% of the vote. 

If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will move on to a November runoff. 

Most ballots in Los Angeles County are vote-by-mail, which can arrive up to a week later and still be counted so long as they are postmarked by Election Day. 

Gascon has faced two recall efforts since being elected in 2020.

If Hochman moves on to the general election against Gascon, he is likely to have a difficult time winning. Although he lost to California Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta 59.1% to 40.9% in the state, he lost to Bonta 67.36% to 32.64% in Los Angeles County, per the county clerk.

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