California’s contentious attorney general race

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Legal professional Normal is likely one of the strongest positions within the state and this election yr, it’s arguably essentially the most closely-watched and fierce statewide contests in California.

The race is going down in a yr the place crime dominated headlines — strings of smash and seize robberies plagued cities, and progressive and tough-on-crime District Attorneys are seemingly at conflict.

“Crime is simply by way of the roof. It’s occurred not solely in Kern County, however statewide,” Kern County District Legal professional Cynthia Zimmer mentioned. “Legal professional Normal is California’s high cop, and we’d like somebody in that place who will help get crime underneath management.”

California has 4 candidates hoping to take that place.

The incumbent, Democrat Rob Bonta, was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom final yr after the sitting Legal professional Normal Xavier Becerra was given a spot in President Biden’s cupboard as Well being and Human Providers Secretary.

This would be the first time Bonta will really face California voters as an Legal professional Normal candidate.

On the correct we now have former Assistant U.S. Legal professional Normal Republican Nathan Hochman. He’s endorsed by the California GOP and right here domestically, has the backing of Kern Republican activist and guide Cathy Abernathy.

We even have Los Angeles lawyer Eric Early who positions himself because the candidate furthest to the correct.
He has the help of the California Republican Meeting.

Within the center, there’s Anne Marie Schubert, the Sacramento District Legal professional who switched from the Republican social gathering to No Get together Desire in 2018. She’s finest recognized for serving to within the arrest and conviction of the Golden State Killer.

“Folks want to know that I’m relentless. Whether or not it’s the pursuit of justice by way of that sort of case [or] different public coverage points associated to public security,” Schubert mentioned. “I’m relentless. I cannot cease. I cannot surrender. And that’s what California wants proper now. We’re in a state of chaos.”

Schubert has the backing of the vast majority of present California District Attorneys, together with Kern’s Cynthia Zimmer.

Tuesday’s major election will decide which two candidates face off in November’s Normal Election.