LOS ANGELES - Nathan Hochman defeated incumbent George Gascón, a former Mesa police chief, in the race for Los Angeles County district attorney, unseating the official known as the godfather of progressive prosecutors.

Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, calls himself a “hard middle” candidate who would reject both mass incarceration and the “public safety failure” of Gascón’s tenure the past four years.

Hochman previously ran unsuccessfully for California attorney general as a Republican, but he was an independent in this race and describes himself as a lifelong centrist.

“The voters of Los Angeles County have spoken and have said enough is enough of D.A. Gascón’s pro-criminal extreme policies; they look forward to a safer future,” Hochman said in a statement early Wednesday.

“As D.A., I look forward to representing all of the people, whether they voted for me or not, since their safety will be my responsibility.”

Gascón conceded the race to Hochman.

“The rightward shift across America last night is heartbreaking. Democrats have a long road ahead, but the work is more vital than ever, and our commitment will not waver,” Gascón said in a statement.

“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past four years and grateful to the communities who have been and will always be the heart of criminal justice reform.”

Gascón served as Mesa’s chief of police from 2006 to 2009 before taking the same position at the San Francisco Police Department.

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