Numbers Game: Los Angeles District Attorney Candidates Spar Over Crime Stats

‘Yes, violent crime has dropped from last year to this year. But looking at Gascón’s overall record, it’s not very good,’ said one opponent.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon speaks at a press conference in Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2021. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Challengers in the crowded and contentious primary race for Los Angeles County district attorney have been pummeling incumbent George Gascón for being “soft on crime.”

On the defensive, Mr. Gascón has pointed to a citywide drop in violent crime—more than 3 percent from 2022 to 2023, according to the Los Angeles Police Department—as proof that his progressive reforms are working.