On August 14th, 2024, Los Angeles District Attorney candidate Nathan Hochman, to the surprise of many, endorsed Kamala Harris for president in an interview on Fox 11.
“So, I will be endorsing Kamala Harris in the presidential race. I didn’t vote for Donald Trump in 2016 or 2020, I won’t be voting for him in 2024. I’ll be voting in supporting Kamala Harris.” Hochman told Fox 11 News.
According to Met News, former District Attorney Steve Cooley, a key supporter and mentor to Hochman, Hochman’s campaign the following communication:
“Please cause my endorsement to be removed from the Hochman for DA website if it has not already been done. I also insist that any social media ads, text messages, or video messages featuring me or my name be removed from any and all platforms. My name, title, and image should not be used in anyway whatsoever on behalf of Hochman for DA without my advance written permission. Needless to say it is very unlikely that permission will be forthcoming.”
All references to Cooley have since been removed from Hochman’s campaign website.
‘’While I hope Nathan Hochman beats George Gascon soundly in the DA’s race I have formally withdrawn my endorsement of Nathan. I will not be involved nor will I participate in several upcoming events involving the campaign. I will not go forward on several projects that I had undertaken to support Nathan’s campaign.
“I have done this because of Nathan Hochman’s endorsement of presidential nominee Kamala Harris after promising often that he would make sure the DA’s Office was non partisan. That endorsement broke that important commitment” Cooley told Met News August 16th.
Hochman raised the majority of his campaign funds from conservative Republicans, many at Cooley’s request. After his endorsement of Harris, the donors expressed to Cooley “their anger over Hochman’s endorsement of Harris.”
Insiders are also revealing political fundraiser Trey Kozacik, who worked with former President Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign, is currently working with Hochman’s campaign for LA DA.
In 2019, after learning Kozacik helped organize a Los Angeles fundraiser for President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, District Attorney Jackie Lacey cut ties with him.
“Mr. Kozacik helped us put together a fundraising event hosted by one of his former clients, Alan Jackson. We were unaware of these facts surrounding Mr. Kozacik’s relationship with the Trump campaign, and now that we have been made aware of this, going forward Mr. Kozacik, will not be involved in any other fundraising activities for my campaign.”
“I am the first Democrat in nearly 20 years to hold this office, and the only major candidate in this race who is a lifelong Democrat,” Lacey said in 2019. “Mr. Kozacik has not been paid by our campaign, and our chief fundraising consultant is Stephanie Daily Smith, a leading Democratic fundraiser who has spearheaded fundraising efforts for Hillary Clinton for President, Mayor Eric Garcetti, and the Democratic National Committee.”
Hochman has a history of waffling when it comes to his voting, especially during his campaign for Attorney General. The chronology of his public statements is a glimpse into what could be a brilliant political strategy to some, and campaign suicide to others.
In 2022, during his campaign for California Attorney General, Hochman was asked if he voted for Donald Trump. At the time, he was “self-described pragmatic Republican” according to an interview with Cal Matters.
Hochman’s response? “I’m not willing to answer that.”
Somewhere along the campaign trail, Hochman developed a slight case of amnesia with regards to his voting histoory in the previous two Presidential elections. He was unable to recall who he voted for – or if he even voted. “I don’t remember if I voted for president in 2016 and 2020.” Hochman said to the California Republican Party in 2022.
Slowly, his memory started too improve recalling he “…didn’t for Trump but … didn’t vote for Clinton or Biden either in 2016 and 2020.”
And now with the Harris endorsement last week, he delivered a devastating blow to his conservative base.
What was seemingly LA County’s last hope for a DA potentially focused on restoring law and order has now turned into hopeless situation in the eyes many voters.
Especially for those of us who thought we had a legitimate opportunity to get rid of George Gascon, the worst District Attorney in the history of Los Angeles.
Instead, the only shot voters once had of ousting the progressive pro-criminal DA was characterized best by former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who described Hochman’s endorsement of Harris as shooting himself in the foot.
So, instead of seeing sea red support that could have ushered him into the DA’s office, Hochman is now in the deep end the pool with many voters singing the blues.
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