A recent poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies shows Marissa Roy leading John McKinney in the race for Los Angeles city attorney with 20% support compared to McKinney's 10%. However, a significant portion—70%—of voters are still undecided. The article highlights Roy’s association with the Democratic Socialists of America and her stance on reducing police involvement in certain city issues, contrasting this with McKinney’s emphasis on stricter enforcement of laws related to public order and homelessness.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Marissa Roy, a far-left Democratic Socialists of America candidate endorsed by the DSA, has taken a commanding lead in the race for Los Angeles city attorney with 20% support, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. Her opponent, John McKinney, a longtime prosecutor, trails behind at 10%. Despite this gap, 70% of voters remain undecided as of now.
McKinney claims momentum is on his side and argues that Angelenos will see Roy's policies as too extreme when they learn more about her positions on key issues like homelessness and public safety. Roy previously discussed a proposed 100-day moratorium on filing new misdemeanor charges, which has become one of her most controversial stances during the 2022 race.
The city attorney role involves prosecuting misdemeanors, and the position comes with an annual budget of nearly $200 million. The election is scheduled for November.
Written for “Los Angeles City Attorney Race Polls” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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.
uncertain
candidate → jump → 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.
uncertain
number → endorse → Sunday
McKinney told The California Post: “Momentum is clearly on our side.
asserted
Momentum → tell → 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.
asserted
we → continue → 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.”
asserted
she → enforce → touch
The city attorney prosecutes misdemeanors.
asserted
attorney → prosecute → misdemeanors
About 120,000 potential violations cross the office’s desk every year and its lawyers decide which ones get charged.
asserted
ones → cross → desk
The office also defends City Hall when the city gets sued and helps write the laws Angelenos have to follow.
asserted
Angelenos → defend → laws
Roy, 34, works in the California Department of Justice’s consumer protection section.
asserted
Roy → work → section
She is a member of DSA’s Los Angeles chapter, which endorsed her.
asserted
which → endorse → her
DSA-LA wants to shrink the role of armed police in the city.
asserted
LA → want → city
Its published platform calls for fewer sworn officers and for unarmed workers to handle traffic enforcement and mental health calls.
asserted
workers → publish → enforcement
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.
asserted
she → come → charges
Correspondence obtained exclusively by The California Post showed the proposal would have covered offenses including trespassing, loitering, public intoxication and minor drug possession.
asserted
proposal → obtain → trespassing
Roy told The Post she never personally supported a blanket moratorium.
asserted
she → tell → moratorium
On her campaign website, Roy says most misdemeanors stem from poverty, mental illness or addiction.
asserted
misdemeanors → say → poverty
She wants more people accused of low-level crimes sent to treatment, housing and diversion programs instead of court.
asserted
people → want → court
McKinney has pushed in the opposite direction.
asserted
McKinney → push → 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.
asserted
old → spend → 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.
asserted
He → run → sidewalks
His backers include District Attorney Nathan Hochman and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers.
asserted
backers → include → officers
Roy’s lead comes as another DSA-backed candidate surges at the top of the ticket.
asserted
candidate → come → ticket
Earlier this week, the same Berkeley poll put City Councilwoman Nithya Raman ahead of Mayor Karen Bass, 39% to 28%, with 33% undecided.
asserted
% → put → Bass
Bass campaign spokesperson Alex Stack dismissed that result as an “outlier poll” and predicted a close race.
asserted
Stack → dismiss → race
Voters decide Nov. 3.
asserted
Voters → decide → ?
The Aporia
