Los Angeles County voters would likely succeed in recalling District Attorney George Gascon if a recall election were held today, a new poll shows.
The University of California, Berkeley Institute for Governmental Studies found that efforts by the grassroots recall campaign resulted in a 41% lead in public sentiment against Gascon, who has riled up victims’ rights advocates, prosecutors, and police over his policies that promote minimal prison time for criminals, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The poll was conducted between Aug. 9-15 among 4,538 registered voters in Los Angeles County. The margin of error is less than 3%.
Gascon escaped a recall ballot measure on the last day of polling when the county registrar-recorder’s office announced that the effort fell short by about 46,000 valid signatures.
EFFORTS TO RECALL GASCON NOT OVER, GRASSROOTS GROUP SAYS
Recall organizers checked the validity of signatures before delivering the petitions to the county and are questioning the verification process. They believe enough signatures were collected and are investigating the county’s process in determining the validity of each signed petition.
“There are several serious efforts underway that could very well result in the registrar’s initial decision being reversed. And then the people will be given the opportunity to decide,” said former District Attorney Steve Cooley, one of the campaign leaders.
Opinions about Gascon’s job performance were split into thirds between “dislike,” “no opinion,” and “like.” Of the dislike category, most were Republicans, but one-third were Democrats. Gascon has portrayed the recall as a right-wing effort, but organizers say their volunteer base is bipartisan with a large number of Democrats.
The city of Beverly Hills, which is 71% Democratic, unanimously voted to back the recall after a series of high-profile crimes, including the murder of socialite Jackie Avant.
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“If indeed George Gascon is ever on a recall ballot, he will be sent packing,” Cooley said. “It won’t just be a landslide; it will be a megalandslide to rid LA County’s justice system of him and his confederates.”
Gascon declined to comment for this story.
