Nathan Hochman addresses his supporters at Il Pastiao in Beverly Hills on election night, Nov. 5, 2024. Hochman is challenging incumbent George Gascon to be the District Attorney of Los Angeles County. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
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Los Angeles Times
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Topline:
Nathan Hochman has won the Los Angeles County District Attorney's race, defeating incumbent George Gascón, according to the Associated Press.
By the numbers: Early returns from the L.A. County Registrar's office showed Hochman receiving more than 1.4 million votes and Gascón around 890,000. That's about 61% of voters backing Hochman and 39% supporting Gascón.
Why it matters: The district attorney is the county’s top prosecutor, determining when to file criminal charges for felony crimes committed throughout the county, as well as misdemeanor crimes committed in the county’s unincorporated areas and all but 10 of its 88 cities. The 10 cities in which the county district attorney does not prosecute misdemeanors (the city attorney does), include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Monica and Pasadena.
The backstory: When Gascón was voted into office four years ago, he was spurred by a national criminal justice reform movement that gained momentum after the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the protests that followed.
On day one, he introduced a broad set of directives, barring prosecutors from seeking the transfer of juveniles to adult court, filing sentencing enhancements, or charging certain low-level misdemeanors.
Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, has promised to reverse all of Gascón policies in favor of an approach he calls “the hard middle.” He's said he rejects Gascón’s “extreme pro-criminal, decarceration policies.”
As you watch these results, keep in mind
As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, L.A. election officials said 2,106,410 ballots had been returned so far.
There are more than 5.7 million registered voters in L.A. County
Nathan Hochman has won the Los Angeles County District Attorney's race, defeating incumbent George Gascón, according to the Associated Press.
Early returns from the L.A. County Registrar's office showed Hochman receiving more than 1.4 million votes and Gascón around 890,000. That's about 61% of voters backing Hochman and 39% supporting Gascón.
The race to run the largest prosecutors' office in the country was a contentious one, as Hochman and others pushed back hard on policies Gascón put in place when he was elected four years ago.
Speaking to supporters on Election Night at a gathering in Beverly Hills, Hochman said deputy district attorneys working under Gascón had been trying to serve justice with their hands tied behind their backs.
Nathan Hochman speaks with the media at Platinum Equity in Beverly Hills, the site of his election party on Nov. 5, 2024.
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Robert Garrova
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LAist
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“I’m here to tell you your hands will no longer be tied,” he said.
He added later: “We will go ahead and get back in the business of justice. Making crimes illegal again.”
Gascón, who was seeking a second four-year term, was seen as a darling of the criminal justice reform movement. But the political conversation, particularly in this election year, has changed from a focus on reform to public safety.
On Wednesday morning, he released a statement conceding the race to Hochman.
“The rightward shift across America last night is heartbreaking," Gascón said. "Democrats have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever and our commitment will not waver. Nevertheless, I have called Mr. Hochman and wish him the best as Los Angeles County’s next District Attorney.
He continued: "I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past four years and grateful to the communities who have been and will always be the heart of criminal justice reform.”
Hochman addressed his victory in a brief message posted on X.
"The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascon’s pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future," he wrote on the platform. "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."
Who is Hochman?
Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, has promised to reverse all Gascón policies in favor of an approach he calls “the hard middle.” He has said repeatedly that he rejects Gascón’s “extreme pro-criminal, decarceration policies.”
He has added: “I also reject the extreme mass incarceration policies.”
Outside committees working to help elect Hochman raised more than $7.2 million compared to $605,000 for Gascón, according to an analysis conducted by LAist.
Hochman was born and raised in Beverly Hills. He attended Brown University and Stanford Law School. As a federal prosecutor in L.A., one of his biggest cases involved prosecuting corrupt sheriff’s deputies.
He entered private practice in 1997, and has mostly worked as a white collar defense attorney. In 2008, then-President George W. Bush appointed Hochman to oversee the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He served for a year.
In one of his most high-profile cases, Hochman defended former L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, who was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2017 for covering up the abuse of inmates at Men’s Central Jail.
In 2020, when some people were calling for reduced funding for law enforcement, Hochman and his brother created the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Foundation, an independent group that raises money for the county department.
From 2011 to 2016, Hochman was president of the L.A. City Ethics Commission, a volunteer position. The panel enforces city campaign finance and lobbying rules.
In 2022, he was the Republican nominee for California Attorney General, losing to Democrat Rob Bonta. Last year, Hochman changed his party affiliation to No Party Preference.
How we got here
When Gascón was voted into office four years ago, he was spurred by a national criminal justice reform movement that gained momentum after the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the protests that followed.
Although many other progressive district attorneys were voted into office at that time, Gascón was the most widely known.
George Gascón at an election party in Los Angeles ahead of the polls closing, on Nov. 5, 2024.
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Erin Stone
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LAist
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One major goal of criminal justice reform has been to help reduce mass incarceration. Gascón's reforms fundamentally changed how L.A. prosecutors operate.
On the day he was sworn in, he introduced a broad set of directives. Prosecutors would no longer be allowed to seek the transfer of juveniles to adult court. They could no longer seek sentencing enhancements, which let prosecutors add many more years to someone’s potential sentence for things like carrying a gun or acting on behalf of a gang, or file charges for certain low level misdemeanors.
And they could no longer seek the death penalty (California has a moratorium on carrying out executions while Gov. Gavin Newsom is in office, but that does not prevent prosecutors from seeking capital punishment for a defendant when they go to trial).
Those changes rankled some of the prosecutors in the District Attorney's Office. Three weeks after Gascón took office, the union representing L.A. County prosecutors filed a lawsuit seeking to block some of his directives. Some of them ran against him in the March primary.
The effort to oust Gascón from office has been vocal, with his detractors blaming him for an increase in local crime — property crime in particular — including high-profile smash-and-grab robberies at retail stores.
Some experts have said placing that blame on Gascón — or any district attorney — isn't quite fair because they have less of an influence on overall crime rates than do police.
Violent crime rose 7% in 2023 from 2020 in L.A., the year Gascón took office, according to the state Department of Justice. More recently, violent crime has been trending downward.
Property crime jumped 20% during the same time frame and continues to rise.
One major factor affecting those numbers is the COVID-19 pandemic, during which crime jumped dramatically. It's also noteworthy that the same crime trends are being seen across the country in big cities with and without progressive prosecutors.
LAist reporters Erin Stone and Robert Garrova contributed to this story.
Listen to Frank Stoltze and Antonia Cereijido break down the LA DA race results on Imperfect Paradise here
Nathan Hochman defeated incumbent George Gascón in the Los Angeles County District Attorney race. Many see the outcome as a bellwether for the criminal justice reform movement nationwide. LAist Correspondent Frank Stoltze breaks down the LA DA race results and helps us understand what Hochman's decisive victory and Gascón’s loss means. Also, Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido speaks with Alyssa Kress from the Prosecutors Alliance of California (PAC), a nonprofit that supports progressive prosecutors including Gascón, about the future of the broader social justice movement and their strategy moving forward.
George Gascón’s reelection loss and whether there’s a future for the progressive prosecutors' movement
Nathan Hochman defeated incumbent George Gascón in the Los Angeles County District Attorney race. Many see the outcome as a bellwether for the criminal justice reform movement nationwide. LAist Correspondent Frank Stoltze breaks down the LA DA race results and helps us understand what Hochman's decisive victory and Gascón’s loss means. Also, Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido speaks with Alyssa Kress from the Prosecutors Alliance of California (PAC), a nonprofit that supports progressive prosecutors including Gascón, about the future of the broader social justice movement and their strategy moving forward.
Elly Yu
is an LAist reporter who has enjoyed seeing the Rose Parade in person.
Published December 23, 2025 12:21 PM
The Tournament of Roses is giving more than 1,000 tickets to the parade, and 10,000 tickets for Floatfest.
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Alborz Kamalizad
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LAist
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Topline:
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is offering more than 1,000 tickets to the Rose Parade for residents who lived in areas affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires. It’s also giving away 10,000 tickets to Floatfest, where residents can see the floats post-parade.
How to get tickets: The tournament is distributing parade tickets through community organizations like the Eaton Fire Collaborative, which will be giving away up to two tickets per household; eligibility is determined by address. People can request tickets through Dec. 26, and residents will be randomly selected on Dec. 27.
What about Floatfest? Tickets are all gone to go to Floatfest on Jan. 2, but there are still tickets available for Jan. 3 for affected residents, "regardless of the nature of their loss.” Folks can request up to six tickets, and they’re available on a first-come first-serve basis. They can also request tickets in person at the front desk of the Tournament of Roses office (391 S. Orange Grove Blvd.) by Dec. 24.
Jill Replogle
covers public corruption, debates over our voting system, culture war battles — and more.
Published December 23, 2025 11:45 AM
Have you seen the price of stamps? We're in sticker shock.
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Robyn Beck
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
If you're tempted to save money on holiday cards by buying ultra-cheap stamps online, know they are probably counterfeit.
Why it matters: If you use fake stamps, you risk your mail being confiscated or sent back.
Why now: There has been an “explosion” in counterfeit stamps in recent years, mostly coming from China and India. The counterfeiters are fast, and the stamps look nearly identical to official stamps. “ It's very difficult to tell unless we are analyzing these stamps side by side in our lab with very technical equipment,” said Marjan Barrigan-Husted, an agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
I remember feeling very adult the first time I sent out holiday cards with family photos on them.
But the overall cost of this sweet, but fleeting, gesture is getting hard to swallow. The cards are expensive, of course. And then there’s the price of sending them through the mail. Forever stamps now cost 78 cents. When did that happen?
I was rethinking the whole endeavor when I did a little Googling, and bingo! — I found a bunch of websites offering stamps for close to 20 cents a piece. A fraction of the price. Was this for real?
No, as it turns out. The majorly-discounted stamps advertised online are more than likely counterfeit. And if you use fake stamps, you risk your mail being confiscated or sent back.
“Typically, there is no such thing as a discounted stamp,” said Marjan Barrigan-Husted, a federal agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Barrigan-Husted said “typically” because the postal service does have agreements with a select number of vendors, mostly big box stores and stamps.com, to sell stamps at a slightly discounted rate — for example, you can get a whopping 25 cents off a roll of 100 stamps from Costco.
That’s not even close to the steals I was finding online with just a little scrolling. And the stamps looked, to me, just like the latest stamps coming hot off the USPS press.
“It takes 'em about six weeks to turn around from the time the stamp is issued until it's available in the United States as a counterfeit,” said Wayne Youngblood, a writer and philatelist — an expert in stamps.
What’s behind the surge in counterfeit stamps?
Youngblood said there has been an “explosion” in counterfeit stamps in recent years, mostly coming from China. Many also come from India, Barrigan-Husted said.
Federal postal agents seized more than 4.4 million fake stamps, worth more than $3 million, just in the first quarter of this fiscal year, according to Barrigan-Husted.
Why the surge? For one thing, they are not easy to detect. “ It's very difficult to tell unless we are analyzing these stamps side-by-side in our lab with very technical equipment,” Barrigan-Husted said.
Plus, she thinks the temptation might just be too great for those on a tight income.
“The economy has been rough ever since COVID,” Barrigan-Husted said. “People with no ill intentions are thinking that they can save some money here and there by cutting costs, and one of those ways of cutting costs is to get discounted stamps.”
‘It’s like wack-a-mole’
Shutting down the websites that sell fake stamps seems like an obvious answer to the problem, or so I thought.
“ We are doing our best to shut these websites down,” Barrigan-Husted said. “But there are millions of them that just keep popping up.”
Plus, the Postal Inspection Service that Barrigan-Husted works for is a small agency, with arguably bigger fish to fry. They also investigate child exploitation crimes, money laundering, elicit drug trafficking and other major crimes associated with the mail system.
“And so those kinds of things kind of take their priority,” Youngblood said.
What happens if you use fake stamps?
Mail fraud is a federal crime. But postal agents are more focused on suppliers of counterfeit stamps than the often unwitting consumers who buy them. But Barrigan-Husted said your mail might be confiscated and even opened if it has a fake stamp on it. Or, it could be sent back.
She said consumers should also be wary of giving their credit card information to online businesses offering stamps that are too cheap to be legit.
“ The scammers are using that information as well,” Barrigan-Husted said.
In the end, the postal service is likely the biggest victim of the illicit stamp industry — Youngblood estimates that USPS loses more than $1 billion annually when people use counterfeit stamps instead of buying the real ones.
That loss also translates to higher prices for all mail users — including the continual rise in the cost of stamps.
“ We're having to make up for all of the counterfeit stamps that have gone through the mail stream,” Barrigan-Husted said, “we still have to make up that revenue.”
For me, this all translates into an excellent excuse not to send cards this year. It’s getting late anyway. Maybe next year.
Keep up with LAist.
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Kavish Harjai
writes about how people get around L.A.
Updated December 23, 2025 12:22 PM
Published December 23, 2025 11:35 AM
Los Angeles County Public Works Department workers load sandbags into a resident's car in Altadena.
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Eric Thayer
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline:
Officials are warning that a massive storm moving across Southern California could pose serious threats to the region during the holidays.
Forecast: Heavy rainfall is expected to begin Tuesday night into Wednesday. Additional rain is expected Christmas Day and through the weekend. High winds are forecast to accompany the wet conditions.
Evacuation information: One of the main concerns with the holiday storm is mud and debris flows, and properties near recent burn scar areas are especially of concern. To prepare, officials in Orange and L.A. counties have issued evacuation warnings orders for recent burn scar areas. If you're unsure of whether your home is in one of the evacuation warning zones, you can see this map on L.A. County's webpage for the current emergency. Go here for the latest orders in Orange County.
Serious conditions: Flooding, even in urban areas, as well as downed trees and power lines are expected from the holiday week storm. Officials warned people to reconsider what their holiday looks like if they were initially planning to travel on the road this week.
This story will be updated. Check back for details.
Whether you call it a "pineapple express" or atmospheric river, officials are warning that a massive storm moving across Southern California could pose serious threats to the region during the holidays.
Here's what we know as of Tuesday morning.
Rainfall totals
Coastal and valley areas are expected to receive 4 to 6 inches of rain over the course of the storm. Up to 10 inches is forecast for the foothills and mountains. We'll keep track of running rain totals here as the storm progresses.
Evacuations and closures
One of the main concerns with the holiday storm is mud and debris flows, and properties near recent burn scar areas are especially of concern. To prepare, officials in Orange and L.A. counties have issued evacuation warnings orders for recent burn scar areas.
Some areas are slated to get mandatory evacuation orders over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you're unsure of whether your home is in one of the evacuation warning zones, you can see this map on L.A. County's webpage for the current emergency. Go here for the latest orders in Orange County.
Nearly 400 properties in recent burn scar areas are under an evacuation order in L.A. County that went into effect at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
"Those recommendations are based on technical science, forecasting of the current weather event and our best estimate for who would be most vulnerable," Mark Pestrella, the director of the L.A. County Department of Public Works, said Tuesday morning.
The 383 properties currently under an evacuation order have been contacted directly by law enforcement or other emergency personnel. If no one answered their door, officials left flyers and will revisit the property Tuesday, according to the L.A. County Office of Emergency Management.
A flood watch is in place for most of Southwest California.
Tuesday morning in L.A. will be cloudy with a chance for some rain in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
Rain will pick up later Tuesday evening and into Wednesday.
The National Weather Service said "widespread gusts of 35 to 55 miles per hour are likely" in the area.
Here are some of the potential impacts of the storm outlined by the National Weather Service:
Widespread and significant flooding in urban areas
Debris flows that could affect areas outside of recent burn scar areas
Saturated soil and strong winds could lead to downed trees and power lines
Take this upcoming storm seriously
Ariel Cohen, who leads the National Weather Service in the Los Angeles and Oxnard areas, told LAist's AirTalk Tuesday morning that a storm like this occurs only once every five to 10 years in the area.
That this storm is falling on a holiday week makes it a bit more concerning, Cohen said.
" The impacts are going to be potentially much higher with folks on the roadway," Cohen added. "So what you can do now is plan to not be on the road."
Cohen also said the storm's impact won't be felt equally in different parts of the county and warned that the "life-threatening" conditions will be throughout the foothills and mountains across the region.
Understanding National Weather Service warnings
Here’s an excerpt from our guide to understanding flood warnings, if any are issued:
Flood advisories are how the NWS begins to raise the alarm. The goal is to give people enough time to take action.
Flood watches are your indicators to get prepared to move.
Aflood warning is issued when a hazardous weather event is imminent or already happening. When one is issued for your area, you need to get to higher ground immediately.
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is coming or in progress. Flash floods are sudden and violent floods that can start within minutes.
If you're in L.A. County and need sand bags, you can find some at local fire houses.
Staying safe when the winds are high
Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; do not use candles because they may pose a fire hazard.
If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives. It is OK to use your cellphone to call 911. If you must leave the vehicle, exit away from downed power lines and jump from the vehicle, landing with both feet together. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling and not picking up your feet until you are several yards away.
Water and electricity don’t mix. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Do not step in or enter any water that a downed power line may be touching.
Do not use any equipment indoors that is designed for outdoor heating or cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food as fresh as possible. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage.
Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.
Tips on staying warm
State law requires residential units to have heating systems that can keep indoor temperatures at a minimum of 70 degrees. That means every dwelling unit and guest room offered for rent or lease should offer heating equipment.
Use heat smartly to save money: Cranking heaters can be expensive. If money is tight, be judicious about how and when you use your utilities. For example, only use heaters at night or only set the thermostat to around 70 degrees.
Open and close those vents: If you have central A/C, look at where the vents are around your home. Are any open in places where you don’t stay long? Practice opening and closing those so warm air only goes where you need it (most vents should have a small toggle lever). Humidifiers can also help you warm things up — and it’s useful to add moisture into our dry air.
Adjust your wall heaters: If you have a wall heater, you can change the output by adjusting the knob (usually at the bottom). Since wall heaters can only warm the areas where they’re placed, it’s essential to close doors to rooms you won’t be in so hot air doesn’t get wasted.
Turn on your ceiling fan (really): If you have a ceiling fan, try turning it on. This sounds counterintuitive, but there’s science behind it. TSince hot air floats up, your fan can help move it around. For warming, your fan should spin clockwise to create an updraft. Not all fans will have this option.
This is a developing story. We fact check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.
Students in a classroom in Sacramento on May 11, 2022.
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Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
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CalMatters
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Topline:
Senate Bill 848 creates an array of measures to educate school staff, beef up reporting requirements and stop teachers credibly accused of abuse from getting jobs at other districts.
Why now: The law stems from a previous California law that made it easier for victims to sue school districts and counties. Under AB 218, which went into effect in 2020, victims can file suit until age 40 or even older if they didn’t remember being abused until later in life. That’s led to an avalanche of lawsuits and much greater public awareness of the scope of the problem.
What's next: The law goes into effect Jan. 1 and schools must have protocols in place by July. The law applies to all schools, including private schools.
Read on... for what to know about the new law.
Facing a mountain of lawsuits, California K-12 schools will have a system in place beginning this year to prevent teachers and other staff from sexually abusing students.
A new California law creates an array of measures to educate school staff, beef up reporting requirements and stop teachers credibly accused of abuse from getting jobs at other districts.
The law, Senate Bill 848, goes into effect Jan. 1 and schools must have protocols in place by July. The law applies to all schools, including private schools.
“I’m proud to see this bill move forward. It’s been really personal for me,” state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, the bill’s author, told CalMatters after it passed. “For survivors, this is an important step toward justice.”
Avalanche of lawsuits
The law stems from a previous California law that made it easier for victims to sue school districts and counties. Under AB 218, which went into effect in 2020, victims can file suit until age 40 or even older if they didn’t remember being abused until later in life. That’s led to an avalanche of lawsuits and much greater public awareness of the scope of the problem.
So far, victims have filed more than 1,000 lawsuits against school districts and counties, with some resulting in enormous payouts. A jury in Riverside County in 2023 handed Moreno Valley Unified a $135 million verdict over abuse allegations, and Los Angeles Unified faces more than $500 million in claims.
Overall, California schools face nearly $3 billion in sex abuse claims from former students, according to the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, a state agency that helps school districts with financial matters. Some of the incidents occurred decades ago, as early as the 1940s, and some of the payouts have been so large that they’ve led districts to financial insolvency.
School accountability
While the new law doesn’t address the lawsuits, it does institute measures intended to stop future abuse and hold schools more accountable. It requires schools to write comprehensive policies on appropriate behavior, and train students, teachers, coaches and other school staff on recognizing and reporting misconduct. It also broadens the number of staff who are required to report abuse allegations.
Perhaps the most noteworthy requirement is creating a database of teachers credibly accused of abuse. The database, to be administered by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, will be available to schools during their hiring processes. The aim is to stop teachers who’ve abused students from quitting and getting rehired elsewhere, only to abuse more students. Teachers who’ve been cleared of wrongdoing will be removed from the database.
Pérez, a Democrat from Alhambra, said she was inspired to author the new law after reading about generations of abuse at Rosemead High School, which is in her district. She also told CaMatters that she was the victim of a teacher’s unwanted attention when she was in high school.
“There are now dollars and cents being assigned to these cases,” she said in September. “It’s really opened up this conversation about what can we do to better prevent this abuse from happening.”
