As amazing as it is to say, there are actually other elections going on other than the presidential contest, and a lot of them at the local level will have more immediate ramifications for communities. This Washington Examiner series, All Politics Is Local, will highlight some of the most intriguing mayoral battles, district attorney races, and state legislature tussles that will be decided on Nov. 5. Part 2 is on district attorney races to watch.
For years, district attorney elections largely flew under the radar for Republicans, while Democrats, often advocating for so-called criminal justice reform, dominated these critical local races.
However, rising crime rates and public discontent over perceived leniency toward criminals have shifted the political landscape.
Republicans are “absolutely” investing more in district attorneys’ races in areas where progressives and Democratic megadonor George Soros have historically invested, according to Parker Thayer, an investigative researcher at Capital Research Center.
“It is very hard to keep track of the spending on DA races nationwide because of the complexities of state campaign finance records and databases, but there seems to be much more spending in opposition to Soros-backed DA candidates,” Thayer said.
Even in races where a conservative candidate hardly stands a chance at victory, Democratic-leaning candidates are directly challenging the progressive policies that have defined recent years of the criminal justice reform movement — policies that critics say have failed to keep communities safe.
“The trend thus far, even in America’s most liberal cities, has been a retreat from the rogue prosecutor model for criminal justice “reform” that was popularized from 2016 to 2020. It seems unlikely that the trend will be reversed this cycle, even though the Soros network seems determined to keep fighting a losing battle,” said Thayer.
Polling data reveals a significant divide between Republican and Democratic voters on the issue of crime. According to a Pew Research survey, 81% of former President Donald Trump‘s supporters say the criminal justice system is “not tough enough,” compared to just 40% of Biden-Harris administration supporters who expressed the same view.
Yet only 36% of Democratic voters say the current system is “about right” in its treatment of criminals, while only 21% say it is too strict, highlighting the growing appetite among voters for a stricter approach to crime.
A tale of two Golden State cities
Nathan Hochman’s campaign against incumbent DA George Gascón in Los Angeles is a prime example of this shift. Hochman, a former federal prosecutor who ran a failed bid as a Republican for state attorney general in 2022, is positioning himself as a tough-on-crime candidate in the district attorney race, directly criticizing Gascón’s progressive policies for contributing to rising crime in the city.
Hochman has gained significant momentum, reflected in his record-breaking fundraising, raising nearly $4 million as of mid-September. In comparison, Gascón, a key figure in the progressive district attorney movement, has struggled to keep up, raising around $700,000 by the same period, according to LAist.
Gascón’s opponent has drawn support from voters who feel the current district attorney’s leniency on prosecuting misdemeanors and other crimes has led to a surge in crime rates and reduced public safety. The Los Angeles DA race has become a focal point for debates over whether progressive reforms can survive amid increasing concerns about safety in Los Angeles.
In San Francisco, the district attorney’s race is giving residents a choice between addressing the city’s ongoing crime issues or pivoting back to a policy platform that more closely resembles that of ousted far-left district attorney Chesa Boudin in 2022.
Incumbent DA Brooke Jenkins, who replaced Boudin after his historic recall in 2022, faces a significant challenge from Ryan Khojasteh, a progressive attorney and former prosecutor who Jenkins fired shortly after taking office.
Jenkins, running on a platform that emphasizes public safety and higher conviction rates, has highlighted her efforts to reverse the policies she claims “weren’t working for this city.” She has raised the office’s conviction rate for the first time in eight years and is credited with a crackdown on drug crimes and retail theft.
Khojasteh, however, is rallying progressive supporters, many of whom backed Boudin’s policies, and has framed his campaign as a return to reformist justice.
Despite her opponent’s progressive stance in the staunchly liberal city, Jenkins remains the favored candidate, with a fundraising advantage and the support of key San Francisco officials, including Mayor London Breed.
The public shift against criminal justice reform policies was also highlighted recently by the defeat of Portland, Oregon’s progressive district attorney Mike Schmidt, who lost this summer to challenger Nathan Vasquez, an independent candidate who like Hochman was previously a Republican.
The outcomes of the two Golden State district attorney races will serve as key indicators of whether voters in liberal cities still favor reformist policies or are leaning towards stricter law enforcement.
Soros-backed Texas candidate faces tough-on-crime ex-prosecutor
The Harris County, Texas District Attorney race will be closely watched as Sean Teare, who ousted two-term incumbent Kim Ogg in the Democratic primary, faces Republican candidate Dan Simons.
Thayer said the recent trend and downfall of Soros-backed district attorneys can in many ways be attributed to the “Soros DAs themselves.”
“Nowhere is this more clear than in Harris County, TX, where Kim Ogg, a candidate once backed by Soros, was primaried by Sean Teare, Soros’s new darling,” Thayer said.
Harris County is the most populous county in the Lone Star State, counting Houston as its seat.
Teare, running on a progressive platform, has raised a significant amount of money, securing over $1.7 million in 2023, much of which came from prominent donors such as George Soros’s Texas Justice and Public Safety PAC, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Teare’s campaign has focused on reforming the cash bail system, prioritizing violent crime prosecution, and ensuring public safety through a progressive lens.
On the other hand, Simons, a former prosecutor with a compelling personal story of overcoming homelessness, positions himself as the candidate who will restore trust in law enforcement by advocating a stricter, tough-on-crime approach.
Simons has raised considerably less than Teare, pulling in just over $136,000, according to a June report from Houston Landing. Nevertheless, Simons emphasizes his relatability to voters and his commitment to addressing the growing backlog in the county’s court system.
Arizona district attorney race brings border policy into focus
The race for Maricopa County Attorney is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched DA races in 2024, with incumbent Republican Rachel Mitchell facing off against Democrat Tamika Wooten. Both candidates bring decades of experience, but their platforms present starkly different visions for the office.
Mitchell, who took over the office in 2022, is running on a platform focused on cracking down on organized crime, addressing the fentanyl crisis, and restoring order to a justice system she says was affected by progressive policies in other jurisdictions.
The Republican incumbent has raised significant support from law-and-order voters, though her fundraising numbers are still emerging. Mitchell’s strategy has included focusing on securing the border and holding criminals accountable, especially those linked to drug trafficking and organized crime.
She has also criticized the federal government for what she sees as a failure to address border issues, which she claims are exacerbating the fentanyl epidemic in Arizona.
Wooten, on the other hand, is running on a reformist platform, pledging to restore faith in the criminal justice system by treating mental illness and addiction as public health issues. She is particularly focused on addressing mandatory sentencing laws, which she argues limit the ability of judges to deliver fair sentences.
Wooten has been critical of Mitchell’s focus on punitive measures, arguing that the county needs a more compassionate approach to justice. In terms of funding, Wooten’s campaign has leaned heavily on support from progressive groups and advocates of criminal justice reform, though it’s unclear how much influence Soros has poured into the race at this point.
“It’s not clear, as of yet, that the Soros network has engaged in any direct support of Tamika Wooten, but George Soros has a history of involvement with the Maricopa County criminal justice system,” Thayer said, adding it “would not be surprising” if any Soros-adjacent networks funneled money into her campaign.
Pennsylvania’s attorney general race could shape Philly’s future DA race
In Pennsylvania’s 2024 attorney general race, Democrat Eugene DePasquale and Republican Dave Sunday are squaring off, both bringing starkly different visions for the office.
DePasquale, the former state auditor general, has built his campaign on consumer protection, defending abortion rights, and addressing mental health in relation to violent crime. His platform reflects broader Democratic priorities, focusing on social justice issues and progressive policies.
On the other side, Republican Dave Sunday, the District Attorney for York County, emphasizes public safety, tackling the opioid crisis, and enforcing stricter laws on gun possession and drug crimes. His focus on law enforcement and addressing crime head-on is resonating with voters concerned about public safety. Sunday also points to his success in reducing crime in York County as a model for what he hopes to achieve statewide.
The race has implications for future DA races in Pennsylvania, including progressive Larry Krasner’s 2025 reelection campaign in Philadelphia. Should Sunday win, his tougher stance on crime could influence how state resources are allocated to district attorneys such as Krasner, whose progressive policies have faced growing scrutiny.
Race to fill seat left after DeSantis fired defiant Hillsborough state attorney
In Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit State Attorney race, former officeholder Andrew Warren is seeking to regain his position after being ousted by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in 2022.
Warren, suspended for making a public statement in which he vowed not to prosecute abortion-related cases, previously said he would not seek reelection in January. He quickly changed his mind, and now faces Suzy Lopez, who was appointed by DeSantis to replace him. A legal fight ensued for Warren to regain his post, but the governor’s decision to oust him was ultimately upheld.
Warren’s campaign is backed by progressive supporters, and he has previously received donations from Soros-aligned groups, while Lopez has strong support from conservative donors and Republican allies.
The race could serve as a test in the Republican-led Sunshine State of whether voters are ready to embrace a previously defiant official, as voters statewide are poised to consider a key abortion ballot measure that is also facing its own eleventh-hour legal challenge over contested signature requirements.
GOP former alderman seeks to shore up violent crime in Chicago
In Chicago’s Cook County State’s Attorney race, Eileen O’Neill Burke, a Democrat with extensive experience as a prosecutor and judge, is focusing on reducing gun violence, addressing “root causes of crime,” and expanding restorative justice programs, according to her campaign webpage.
Burke also supports policies such as amending the Safe-T Act and creating a Choice Protection Unit to safeguard abortion access post-Roe v. Wade.
Conversely, Republican Bob Fioretti, a former Chicago alderman and lawyer, has centered his campaign on reversing progressive reforms, tackling corruption, and restoring law enforcement’s role in reducing crime.
Fioretti also says there is a greater need for the city’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in light of the Biden-Harris administration’s border crisis.
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“Just as the Democratic Party has consistently valued violent criminals over victims, and corrupt politicians over taxpayers, it has placed the needs of illegal immigrants ahead of citizens in historically disenfranchised communities,” according to Fioretti’s campaign website.
Like the West Coast district attorney races, Cook County will be one to watch as both Windy City candidates have outlined their desire to bolster the understaffed State’s Attorney’s Office, while Fioretti is advocating a more hard-line stance against crime.