LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Progressive challenger Ysabel Jurado maintains a substantial lead over incumbent Kevin de León on Wednesday in the tumultuous and high-profile race for the District 14 seat on the Los Angeles City Council.

As of Wednesday evening, the tenant rights attorney had received more than 30,000 votes, or about 55.5 percent of the total, while de León had more than 24,000, or 44.5 percent, according to the registrar-recorder/ Los Angeles County Clerk.

This is a slight widening of the gap between the two compared to the initial results released on election night. Ballots are still being counted and Jurado has not declared victory.

Both candidates are vying to represent a district that includes Downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Northeast Los Angeles.

Their Election Day confrontation comes two years after a leaked 2021 recording captured de León participating in a conversation with two other former council members and a now-former union leader, during which foul and racist language was used. been used. This sparked a scandal in which several officials, including President Joe Biden, called for de León to resign.

Meanwhile, Jurado was recently recorded uttering her own controversial statement — responding “F—the police” when asked during an Oct. 17 meet-and-greet at Cal State LA about her stance on the abolition of the police. The question came from a student who is also a member of León’s staff.

De León — whose campaign did not respond to City News Service requests for the candidate to be interviewed for this article — also survived four recall attempts.

In the secretly recorded meeting, de León, former City Councilman Gil Cedillo, former Council Speaker Nury Martinez and former Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera were heard discussing the ways to expand Latino/Hispanic influence by manipulating the redistricting process.

In the recordings, de León compared the way then-Councilman Mike Bonin treated his son at a Martin Luther King Jr. parade to “when Nury brings his little garden bag or the bag Louis Vuitton.

He didn’t intervene when Martinez belittled Bonin, who is white and openly gay; She also called Bonin’s child, who is black, “ese changuito” — Spanish for “that little monkey.”

Additionally, Martinez said of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon: “F— this guy. … He’s with the black people.”

De León has repeatedly apologized for his participation in the conversation, including telling the Los Angeles Times last year that he should have “ended that meeting.”

And since the flight, he has remained on the council while working to improve his image.

He opened new parks and held food distribution events in his neighborhood; launched initiatives to ensure public safety; provided funding to the LAPD for more foot patrols around commercial corridors in Eagle Rock and other neighborhoods; and led an initiative to combat copper wire theft.

Additionally, he championed safety measures along dangerous intersections and streets in Boyle Heights and other areas; and promoting more affordable housing, including working with Mayor Karen Bass on Operations Inside Safe to reduce encampments.

Jurado, meanwhile, said she was quoting rap lyrics with her “F— the police” remark, and has since defended her comments, despite criticism from the LAPD union, Acting Chief Dominic Choi, police officers and other members of the city council. members. She also expressed her commitment to public safety.

She also said her comment did not live up to de León’s recording, calling the latter “shameful.”

“LA thrives on its diversity and greatness,” Jurado said. “(The tape) was horrible. This is not who we are, this campaign and the city of Los Angeles.”

Jurado told CNS that she entered this race to “change the history of corruption” at City Hall – citing the controversies surrounding former City Councilman José Huizar (convicted and now imprisoned for accepting bribes). bribes from real estate developers and cheating on taxes) and León.

“This neighborhood has been used and abused, and we have complete distrust,” Jurado told CNS. “People are asking for honest, accountable and responsive city council members, and that’s the bare minimum.”

On other issues, Jurado — a longtime Highland Park resident, first-time candidate and single mother of a 14-year-old daughter — said she would focus on ensuring residents receive their fair share of city services; and working to reduce homelessness, with a focus on Skid Row, the epicenter of the crisis.

She also highlighted collaboration with homeless service providers, community organizations and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents the 2nd District, which encompasses the Skid Row and CD14 neighborhoods.

Additionally, Jurado said he was concerned about the city’s anti-camping law and broad sweeping campaigns, noting that these policies can make it more difficult to place unhoused residents in temporary or permanent housing.

She said she would focus on public safety through a tiered approach; discussed concerns regarding street lighting and maintenance; and how police officers are overloaded with calls for service that could be handled by unarmed response teams.