The techniques describe example network systems providing core-facing designated forwarder (DF) election to forward multicast traffic into an EVPN of a core network. For example, a first PE device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine that a first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; in response, send a source-active (SA) route to indicate the first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; receive, from a second PE device, a second SA route that indicates that a second multicast traffic flow has started for the second PE device; and perform an election of a core-facing DF from among the first PE device and second PE device, wherein the core-facing DF is configured to forward the multicast traffic into the EVPN.