Kamala Harris backs Jackie Lacey in L.A. County D.A.'s race

California Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris has thrown her support behind Jackie Lacey in the race to become Los Angeles County's next district attorney.

The endorsement was announced earlier this week by the Lacey campaign, which in recent weeks has also touted support from the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Assn. and the county's Democratic Party. Lacey, the county's chief deputy district attorney, is facing Deputy Dist. Atty. Alan Jackson in the November runoff.

Harris' backing means Lacey has the support of both major party nominees who squared off in the 2010 election for attorney general, when Democrat Harris narrowly defeated Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, a Republican and Lacey's boss.

Harris made history by becoming the first woman and first nonwhite candidate to win election as the state's top law enforcement officer. Lacey is similarly hoping to become the county's first female and first black district attorney.

Her opponent also has rolled out several recent endorsements in the nonpartisan race. Jackson's campaign says he has the backing of former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, the local Republican Party and more than 20 local police unions, including those representing Burbank and Glendale officers.

Earlier this week, Jackson and Lacey faced off in a heated debate hosted by the Los Angeles County Organization of Police and Sheriffs. The rivals traded barbs over the death penalty, a statewide ballot measure that would reform California's three-strikes law and their visions for running the office. Video of Tuesday's 90-minute debate can be viewed here.

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-- Jack Leonard