LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Progressive challenger Ysabel Jurado maintains a substantial lead over incumbent Kevin de León Wednesday in the tumultuous and high-profile race for the Los Angeles City Council District 14 seat.

As of Wednesday night, the tenant attorney had received more than 30,000 votes, or about 55.5 percent of the total, while de León was at more than 24,000 votes, or 44.5 percent, according to the LA County Clerk-Recorder.

That was a slight widening of the gap between the two from the initial results that were released on election night. Ballots are still being counted and Jurado has not declared victory.

The two candidates are vying to represent a district that includes downtown LA, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Northeast LA

Their election day showdown comes two years after a leaked recording from 2021 captured de León participating in a conversation with two other former council members and a former union leader during which crude language was used and racist. It sparked an uproar in which several officials, including President Joe Biden, called on de León to resign.

Meanwhile, Jurado was recently recorded making her own controversial statement — responding to F— the police when asked at an Oct. 17 meet and greet at Cal State LA about her stance on police abolition. The question came from a student who is also a member of the León staff.

De León — whose campaign did not respond to City News Service requests for the candidate to be interviewed for this article — has also survived four recall attempts.

In the secretly recorded meeting, de León, former Councilman Gil Cedillo, former Council President Nury Martinez and former Los Angeles Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera were overheard discussing ways to expand Latino/Hispanic influence by manipulating the election process. redistribution.

In the tapes, de León compared the way then-Councilman Mike Bonin treated his son at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade to “when Nury brings his duffel bag or his Louis Vuitton bag.”

He did not intervene as Martinez belittled Bonin, who is white and openly gay; she also called Bonin’s child, who is black, “ese changuito” — Spanish for “that monkey.”

In addition, Martinez said of LA County District Attorney George Gascon, “F— that guy… He’s with the niggers.”

De León has apologized several times for his participation in the conversation — including telling the Los Angeles Times last year that he should have “closed that meeting.”

And since the leak, he has remained on the board while working to rehabilitate his image.

He opened new parks and organized food distribution events in his district; led initiatives to address public safety; provided LAPD with funding for more foot patrols around business corridors in Eagle Rock and other neighborhoods; and led an initiative to crack down on copper wire theft.

In addition, he supported safety measures along dangerous intersections and streets in Boyle Heights and other areas; and advanced more affordable housing, including working with Mayor Karen Bass on Inside Safe operations to reduce encampments.

Jurado, meanwhile, said she quoted a rap lyric with her “F— the police” remark and has since defended the comments despite criticism from the LAPD union, Acting Chief Dominic Choi, police officers and others municipal councils. the members. She also expressed her commitment to public safety.

She also indicated that her comment was not up to de León’s record, calling the latter “disgraceful”.

“LA thrives on its diversity and its greatness,” Jurado said. “(The tape) was awful. This is not who we are, this campaign and the city of LA.”

Jurado told CNS he entered the race to “change the history of corruption” at City Hall — citing the controversies surrounding former councilman Jose Huizar (convicted and now incarcerated for accepting bribes from developers and defrauding his taxes) and León.

“This district has been used and abused and we have total distrust,” Jurado told CNS. “People are asking for honest, responsible and responsive City Council members, and this is the bare minimum.”

On other issues, Jurado — a lifelong Highland Park resident, first-time candidate and single mother of a 14-year-old daughter — said she will focus on making sure residents get their fair share from city services; and work to reduce homelessness, with a focus on Skid Row, the epicenter of the crisis.

She also emphasized working with homeless service providers, community organizations and LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents District 2, which includes the Skid Row and CD14 neighborhoods.

In addition, Jurado expressed concern about the city’s anti-camping and sweeps law, noting that these policies can make it more difficult to place homeless residents in temporary or permanent housing.

She said she would focus on public safety through a multi-layered approach; discussed concerns about street lighting and maintenance; and how police officers are overwhelmed with calls for duty that could be handled by unarmed response teams.