L
os Angeles developers and property owners are rallying behind Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and Beverly Hills High School alum, who is running to unseat L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón on Election Day. Hochman has amassed an impressive $9.9 million in campaign funds, with many real estate industry leaders contributing the maximum amount of $9,000. This includes Pacifica Enterprises co-founders Robert Colucci and Dario De Luca, as well as executives at the Haagen Company.

    About half of Hochman's funding comes from political action committees (PACs) that support him but cannot coordinate with his campaign. Notable contributors include multifamily developer Jerry Marcil, who gave $459,000 via Hochman's campaign and a PAC called Los Angeles County Deserves Better, which raised nearly $1 million from wealthy real estate and entertainment executives.

    Billionaire developer Rick Caruso contributed $250,000 to Hochman after announcing his support over the summer. Caruso stated that he believes Hochman will bring about "fast, effective, and lasting change" in Los Angeles. In contrast, Gascón raised only $1 million during the same period and has fallen 30 points behind Hochman in recent polling.

    Hochman's message seems to resonate with Angelenos, who are concerned about rising crime rates and property crime. Real estate investors like Bob Safai, president of Madison Partners, believe that Hochman is the best candidate to address these issues and restore safety to the city. Voters on the West Coast have already ousted several progressive prosecutors in recent years, and many business associations are backing Hochman's campaign.

    The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles (AAGLA) has endorsed Hochman, citing his aggressive approach to addressing property crime. The California Association of Realtors contributed $20,000 to Hochman through its PAC, while other notable contributors include Douglas Emmett Properties, Hudson Pacific Services, and Kilroy Realty.