A deputy district attorney who had been among four people running against Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey for the spot as the county’s top prosecutor has announced that 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.’’
Lacey, the first woman and first African-American to be elected as Los Angeles County district attorney, is seeking her second term.
“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 in the statement. “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’s rivals in the March 2020 primary election also include 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.
