2024 DTLA Votes General Election Voter Guide
Our 2024 DTLA Votes General Election Guide is a digital non-partisan voter guide and candidate questionnaire for Downtown, by Downtown. Our goal is to help you elect DTLA champions on our before November 5.
We won’t tell you who to vote for. We will make it easier for you to understand how the people running to represent Downtown plan to tackle our neighborhood’s most pressing issues. All general election candidates for the races below were invited to interview with DTLA. We consider these races the most consequential for the future of DTLA. We’re grateful for the candidates who made time with us to engage meaningfully to talk about DTLA. We asked the candidates questions about the following priorities, informed by our inaugural resident survey: DTLA’s economic vibrancy, pedestrian-centered urban form, housing, homelessness, and safety.
How can you use this voter guide to help DTLA thrive? Register to vote at your Downtown address, show up to the polls, and support candidates who care deeply about Downtown and have a vision and commitment to make it better.
We’ll be dropping these interviews with candidates from the races that matter most to DTLA on Instagram, too. Please share this guide widely with your friends and neighborhoods as you see fit to help us create a healthy, vibrant DTLA for all!
Los Angeles City Council District 14:
Ysabel Jurado vs. Kevin de León
Per LAist, the makeup of the city council determines what kind of laws might get passed that affect the entire city of L.A. How do you feel about issues like rent control? Building more housing? Transportation and pedestrian safety? Consider what solutions you’d like to see to these problems when thinking about which candidate to support. DTLA residents work with the City Council Members on issues like neighborhood parks, street safety, homelessness, economic recovery and more. City Council District 14 represents the vast majority of Downtown (besides parts of Chinatown, LA Live, and City Center West).
Kevin de León (incumbent) and Ysabel Jurado (challenger) are the two candidates running in the general election to represent most of Downtown LA in Council District 14.
Want more? We also encourage you to watch the October 14, 2024 CD 14 Candidate Forum featuring Ysabel Jurado and Kevin de Leon hosted by the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) and Arts District Little Tokyo Neighborhood Council (ADLTNC). It was an important conversation about the future of your neighborhood. You can watch the recording here or share with others who missed it.
Los Angeles District Attorney:
George Gascón vs. Nathan Hochman
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office works to improve public safety through the prosecution of crimes in a just and ethical manner. The office prosecutes more than 71,000 felonies and 110,000 misdemeanors every year. Per LAist, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is the largest local prosecutorial office in the U.S., and its influence is felt far beyond L.A. County borders. The district attorney's decisions about which cases to pursue — or not pursue — are hotly debated as a reflection of what we as a society believe justice should look like.
George Gascón (incumbent) and Nathan Hochman (challenger) are the two candidates running in the general election to represent the entire city of Los Angeles in this role, including all of DTLA.
California State Assembly 54:
Mark Gonzalez vs. John Yi
California State Assembly Members vote on bills related to education, housing, green space, economic recovery, safety, and homelessness. DTLA is split in half for these Districts and Assembly District 54 represents all of the Arts District, Little Tokyo, Civic Center, Chinatown, City Center West, Bunker Hill, and parts of the Financial District and Historic Core. Don't know if you live in AD 54? Find out here. You can also check out these more specific map of AD 54.
Mark Gonzalez and John Yi are the two candidate running in the general election to represent Downtown for California Assembly District 54. Miguel Santiago currently holds this seat and is not running for re-election.
California State Assembly 57:
Sade Elhawary vs. Efren Martinez
California State Assembly Members vote on bills related to education, housing, green space, economic recovery, safety, and homelessness. DTLA is split in half for these Districts. Assembly District 57 represents Skid Row, South Park, the Fashion District, and parts of the Financial District and Historic Core. Don't know if you live in AD 57? Find out here. You can also check out these more specific map of AD 57.
Sade Elhawary and Efren Martinez are the two candidate running in the general election to represent Downtown for California Assembly District 57. Reggie Jones Sawyer currently holds this seat and is not running for re-election. Both candidates were invited to record their responses; however, only Ms. Elhawary was able to film with us. We encourage you to research both candidates.
California Congressional District 34:
Jimmy Gomez vs. David Kim
U.S Representatives are our most local version of representation in Washington, D.C.. This district includes most of DTLA. U.S Representatives craft and vote on legislation related to issues like federal taxes, immigration, healthcare, and infrastructure. California has 52 Representatives in Washington. They also help connect residents with federal resources and help residents navigate federal agencies.
Jimmy Gomez (incumbent) and David Kim (challenger) are the two candidate running in the general election to represent Downtown for California Congressional District 34 which covers most of DTLA. Both candidates were invited to record their responses; however, only Mr. Kim was able to film with us. We encourage you to research both candidates.