Los Angeles County District Attorney: How to decide who to vote for

Candidates for L.A. County district attorney race (top l-r, then bottom l-r) Debra Archuleta, Jeff Chemerinsky, George Gascon, Jonathan Hataml, Nathan Hochman, Dan Kapelovitz, Lloyd Bobcat Masson, John McKinney, David Milton, Craig Mitchell, Maria Ramirez and Eric Siddall (Candidate photos, courtesy)

The race for District Attorney is one of the most contentious on the ballot in Los Angeles County for the March 5, 2024 primary election. Incumbent George Gascón, elected in 2020 on a platform of social justice reform, faces 11 challengers. The top two will square off in November’s general election.

To help voters decide, our opinion team surveyed the candidates and published responses on some of the toughest issues facing the office. We also solicited op/eds from the candidates themselves. You’ll find those articles below.

In addition, two members of our editorial board with very different political views broke down their decision-making process for choosing a candidate in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s race.

• Susan Shelley: Why I’m voting for Jonathan Hatami for Los Angeles District Attorney

• Larry Wilson: Why I’m voting for George Gascón for Los Angeles District Attorney

Surveys

As part of this newspaper’s endorsement process, we invited the candidates for Los Angeles District Attorney to provide their written thoughts, only lightly edited for length, on major public policy matters.

• Police accountability

• Prop. 57: The Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act

• Prop. 47: A 2014 law that reduced some non-violent and drug crimes to misdemeanors

• Death penalty

Candidate submissions

We also invited the candidates to write an article making their case for our readers. Here are responses from the eight who replied:

• Debra Archuleta: LA County deserves a smarter brand of justice

• Jeff Chemerinsky: The simple reality is that George Gascón has failed as District Attorney

• George Gascón: Why I should be reelected as district attorney of Los Angeles

• Jonathan Hatami: What justice means to me and how I plan to seek it as district attorney

• Nathan Hochman: What justice means to me and how I plan to seek it as district attorney

• David Milton: Our society cannot be a wholesome one without dispensation of justice

• Maria Ramirez: Why I am the best DA candidate for L.A.

• Eric Siddall: My campaign for Los Angeles County district attorney