LOS ANGELES – Ysabel Jurado declared victory Thursday night in the race for Los Angeles City Council District 14, after taking an early lead over incumbent Kevin de León.

“After knocking down 83,000 doors, mobilizing more than 1,000 volunteers, sending more than 8,000 postcards and registering hundreds of voters to vote, we won. The small campaign that could overcome corruption, redbaiting, misogyny and racial division. This Victoria belongs to the ladies and titas who welcomed us into their homes and distributed pamphlets to their church groups, to the young people who organized meet-and-greets in their college campuses, to single mothers who told their stories and shared their struggles with organizers and tenants who fought tirelessly for their right to remain in their neighborhoods. Together, we cut through the political theater and built a movement focused on real issues: affordable housing, our young people and our seniors. real public safety, the homelessness crisis and defending our small businesses,” Juardo said in a statement.

His victory in the 14th District, which includes downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Northeast Los Angeles, comes less than a month after he found himself in the middle of a scandal after audio captured her saying “Fuck the police.”

During a meeting in Cal State LA on October 17Jurado was asked about his current stance on policing and what he thought about spending discretionary funds on overtime for officers. She responded by saying “What’s the rap verse? F-the policeThat’s how I see them.”

Her comment sparked outrage and people held a demonstration urging her to withdraw from the race. But Juardo continued in the race. He told FOX 11’s Susan Hirasuna that in the days after the audio was released, he had gone door-to-door to talk to constituents and said he found a lot of support.

He was asked several times if he regretted using the rap lyrics.

RELATED: Race for Los Angeles City Council District 14: Kevin de León and Jurado seek to overcome audio leak scandals

Jurado confessed that her father was disappointed in her, but repeated his vision of public safety that would have police focus on serious crimes and gang intervention.

“The safest cities invest in public schools, education, youth development, recreation, parks and libraries. You know, we have to focus on funding them. We can’t continue to fund a budget that continues to prioritize one department at the expense of all of this, I mean, “If you look around this neighborhood, our Boyle Heights library has been closed even before the pandemic for four years, despite protests from community members that this is a place that makes them safe,” Jurado explained.

RELATED: Jury speaks after ‘F– the Police’ audio leaked

She has the support of three current council members who recently voted against pay increases for the LAPD.

In 2022, his opponent, Kevin de LeonHe was also involved in a scandal involving a Leaked racist audio recording.

Jurado said he entered this race to “change the history of corruption” at City Hall, citing the controversies surrounding former Councilman José Huizar (convicted and now imprisoned for accepting bribes from developers and cheating on his taxes) and de León .

“This district has been used and abused and we have total distrust,” Jurado said. “People are asking for honest, responsible and responsive City Council members, and that’s the minimum.”

In other matters, Jurado – a lifelong 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 work to reduce homelessness, focusing on Skid Row, the epicenter of the crisis.

He also emphasized working 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 has expressed concern about the city’s anti-camping law and raids, noting that these policies can make it more difficult to place unhoused residents in temporary or permanent housing.

He said he would focus on public safety through a multi-tiered approach; has discussed concerns related to street lighting and maintenance; and how police officers are overloaded with calls for service that could be handled by unarmed response teams.