LOS ANGELES — Former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman appears headed for victory in his bid to unseat current Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón.

A tally of ballots early Wednesday morning showed Hochman with a big lead, with about 61 percent of the vote, while Gascón has 39 percent.

Eyewitness News will interview Hochman during a special post-election newscast. Tune in at 8am on our 24/7 streaming channel.

“It’s a big job, but I’m absolutely energized by the fact that we have over 750 prosecutors who are ready to get to work,” Hochman told Eyewitness News Tuesday night. “I have tens of thousands of law enforcement officers who will no longer say ‘my hands are tied.’

Gascon won election for Los Angeles County District Attorney in 2020 on promises to implement criminal justice reform in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. Four years later, he faces a tough-on-crime opponent who says such policies have gone too far.

Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, bills himself as a “hard-line” candidate who would reject both the mass incarceration and “release” policies and the “public safety failure” of Gascón’s four-year term.

He advanced from a primary field of 11 challengers and spent most of the campaign attacking Gascón’s policies that he says have led to rising crime and a lack of consequences for juvenile offenders. During the debates, he highlighted the increase in violent crime in the county, a trend seen both statewide and nationally.

“Los Angeles County voters have spoken and said enough is enough of DA Gascón’s extreme pro-crime policies; they look forward to a more secure future,” Hochman said in a statement Wednesday morning. “As a YES, I look forward to representing all people, whether they voted for me or not, as their safety will be my responsibility.”

Hochman’s projected victory reflects growing discontent in the state with progressive prosecutors who have pushed for criminal justice reform. Previously, there were two attempts to recall Gascón that failed to qualify for the vote.

When Gascón first ran for office, he promised not to seek the death penalty in criminal prosecutions, charge juveniles as adults or seek sentencing enhancements that can drastically increase prison time. Backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, then-Mayor Eric Garcetti and other top officials, he ousted incumbent Attorney General Jackie Lacey.

“We have about 30 years to get to where we are today. It would be unrealistic for me or anyone to expect that in four years we will change everything,” Gascón said on Wednesday night. “Even when you consider that in those four years we had two and a half years of the pandemic, which stopped so many things. Certainly, in order for this work to develop further, more time would be needed. .”

Gascón co-authored a ballot measure passed by California voters in 2014 that reclassified certain low-level drug and property offenses as misdemeanors instead of felonies. also on tuesday voters approved a measure partially repealing that law, again making shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and increasing penalties for some drug charges.

Despite the fact that Gascón was a former Los Angeles police officer, Hochman had the support of local police unions.

He was also supported by victims’ advocacy groups; former prosecutor Jackie Lacey, whom Gascón defeated in 2020; developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso; and over 70 current and former elected county officials. Hochman raised nearly $4 million for the campaign.

A native of Southern California, Hochman pointed to his previous experience as an assistant district attorney in the Central District of California. He also practiced as a private lawyer.

He previously ran unsuccessfully for California attorney general as a Republican, but ran as an independent in that race and describes himself as a lifelong centrist.

KABC-TV contributed to this report.