A prosecutor who had been among four people running against Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey in her re-election bid announced Thursday he is dropping out of the race and supporting George Gascon, a former Los Angeles Police Department assistant chief.
Joseph Iniguez said in a statement there is “simply too much riding on this race, and for that reason, I am stepping aside.”
“The nation is watching this race, and prosecutors across the country have been watching and following George’s lead on criminal justice reform,” Iniguez said. “George has proven he has the vision to lead the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office into the 21st century, and has more management experience than the other candidates in this race combined. I am excited to work alongside him to restore competency and dignity to the D.A.’s Office.”
Gascon — the former district attorney for the city and county of San Francisco — said he was “humbled” to have the support of Iniguez, who will serve as co-chair of his campaign.
Lacey, the county’s first elected black and female district attorney, is seeking her third term.
Her campaign got a boost Thursday when — in an apparent snub to Gascon — San Francisco Mayor London Breed and District Attorney Dennis Herrera endorsed Lacey.
“Jackie Lacey is the only candidate for L.A. County district attorney who has the background, proven track record and vision needed to continue creating positive change by leading L.A. County into a new era of smart criminal justice for all,” Herrera said in a statement. ” … She knows how to balance reforming the system while ensuring that violent criminal are off the street and neighborhoods are kept safe.”
Also challenging Lacey in the March 2020 primary election are veteran Deputy District Attorney Richard Ceballos, who is assigned to the office’s Organized Crime Division and Hate Crimes Unit, and Rachel Rossi, who has worked in the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office and the county’s Alternate Public Defender office.