T
he real estate industry is breathing a sigh of relief as Nathan Hochman secured victory in Los Angeles County's closely watched district attorney race. The former federal prosecutor won over voters with his "blueprint for justice," which aimed to restore public safety and criticized incumbent George Gascón for being too soft on crime.

    Hochman had roughly 1.4 million votes, while Gascón had about 891,000. Industry supporters of Hochman include developer Rick Caruso, former Los Angeles Police Commissioner turned developer Steve Soboroff, and luxury residential agents who have reported anecdotally that residents are leaving the Los Angeles market due to crime.

    The district attorney race outcome offers a critique on Gascón's policies, which were aimed at criminal justice reform after George Floyd's death. However, voters appear to have grown weary of the experiment amid increased public perception of crime in the county. Proponents of Gascón point to declining crime statistics, but voter views on crime seem to stretch beyond Los Angeles city limits.

    The Greater Los Angeles Realtors Association and Southland Regional Association of Realtors endorsed Hochman due to concerns about public safety and smash-and-grab crimes. Luxury residential agents have reported that residents are leaving the Los Angeles market for upscale alternatives such as Newport Beach in Orange County, citing crime as a major factor.

    Hochman's win was hardly a surprise, with polls showing his consistent lead over Gascón. The former Republican turned independent campaigned away from party lines and political ideology, arguing district attorneys should make decisions based solely on the facts and the law.