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A far-left Democratic Socialists of America candidate has jumped to a commanding lead in the race to run Los Angeles’ nearly $200 million legal office, according to a concerning new poll.
Marissa Roy, a deputy state attorney general endorsed by the DSA, has 20% support compared to longtime prosecutor John McKinney’s 10% for the city attorney role, according to the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey.
But a huge number of voters — 70% — remain undecided, according to the study published in the LA Times on Sunday.
McKinney told The California Post: “Momentum is clearly on our side. With 70% of voters still undecided, As they continue learning more about my story and my positions on key issues like homelessness and public safety, we feel confident we will win in November.
“Marissa’s unwillingness to enforce the homeless encampment ban and her George Gascón-like policies on crime, Angelenos will realize she is too extreme and out of touch to be City Attorney.”
The survey questioned 2,150 likely voters from Sept. 15 to 20. Roy and McKinney are fighting to replace City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, who was knocked out in the June primary.
The city attorney prosecutes misdemeanors. About 120,000 potential violations cross the office’s desk every year and its lawyers decide which ones get charged.
The office also defends City Hall when the city gets sued and helps write the laws Angelenos have to follow.
Roy, 34, works in the California Department of Justice’s consumer protection section. She is a member of DSA’s Los Angeles chapter, which endorsed her.
DSA-LA wants to shrink the role of armed police in the city. Its published platform calls for fewer sworn officers and for unarmed workers to handle traffic enforcement and mental health calls.
Roy’s most controversial brush with the city attorney’s power came during the 2022 race, when she took part in discussions about a proposed 100-day moratorium on filing new misdemeanor charges.
Correspondence obtained exclusively by The California Post showed the proposal would have covered offenses including trespassing, loitering, public intoxication and minor drug possession.
Roy told The Post she never personally supported a blanket moratorium. On her campaign website, Roy says most misdemeanors stem from poverty, mental illness or addiction.
She wants more people accused of low-level crimes sent to treatment, housing and diversion programs instead of court.
McKinney has pushed in the opposite direction.
The 58-year-old has spent more than 27 years prosecuting cases for the LA County District Attorney’s Office, including the murder of rapper Nipsey Hussle.
He is running on a promise to use the office’s prosecuting power to crack down on street disorder and move homeless people off sidewalks.
His backers include District Attorney Nathan Hochman and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers.
Roy’s lead comes as another DSA-backed candidate surges at the top of the ticket.
Earlier this week, the same Berkeley poll put City Councilwoman Nithya Raman ahead of Mayor Karen Bass, 39% to 28%, with 33% undecided.
Bass campaign spokesperson Alex Stack dismissed that result as an “outlier poll” and predicted a close race.
Voters decide Nov. 3.
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