Kamala Harris wins attorney general's race as Steve Cooley concedes [Updated]

More than three weeks after he declared victory in the race for state attorney general, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley conceded defeat Wednesday as he trailed by more than 50,000 votes in one of the closest statewide races in California history.

The decision means that San Francisco Dist. Atty. Kamala Harris will assume the post of California's top law enforcement official, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the statewide offices.

Uncertainty had swirled around the election result since shortly after the votes began to be counted on Nov. 2. Cooley claimed victory on election night, only to discover the next morning that he was behind. As county registrars scrambled to count more than 2 million ballots left uncounted after election day, the lead bounced back and forth, but Harris has held an advantage for more than a week.

By Tuesday evening, Harris led Cooley by nearly 53,000 votes -- 4,385,438 to 4,332,596 -- according to a Times review of updated vote tallies in all 58 counties. The secretary of state's office reported that there were 154,806 ballots left uncounted statewide, though the actual number is most likely much less given the delay in some counties reporting their most recent figures to the state's election agency.

To win, Cooley would need more than two-thirds of those votes to overtake Harris. So far, the gap between the candidates has been less than a single percentage point. Moreover, about two-thirds of the remaining votes are in counties that Harris carried, including Contra Costa, Monterey and Sonoma.

[Updated at 11:28 a.m.: Cooley called Harris on Wednesday morning to congratulate her and concede the election, said his campaign consultant Kevin Spillane.

“Frankly the margin is just too great to be made up with the votes that remain to be counted,” Spillane said.

He said that a recount, which must be paid for by the requesting candidate under state law, would be expensive and would not likely make up enough votes to overcome Harris’ lead. “It would be overly divisive, and we’re not confident that it would reverse it ultimately,” Spillane said.]

-- Jack Leonard

Photo: Steve Cooley. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Ashly]

@Club A
Hey Buddy, missing you already. Sure you don't wanna change your mind? LOL

[rachel]

Good riddance. Bye bye cooley. Does this mean you're no longer the D.A. in Los Angeles?

[Barbara Perkins]

Kamala deserves the win, worked hard for it, campaigned fairly and ran on her own record of accomplishment. Is this not the promise of American politics? What is all the "personal hate" about?

I have the solution...just keep doing right let the others worry about the other stuff!

[Jim Ramsdell]

We are so lucky that the Democrats are now in complete control!!! The state so go well ran and we have spending under control thanks to the fact the Democrats have been mostly in charge of the state for the last 10 years or so!!! (California voters are morons).

[Brett]

It's never too early to start a recall election.

[Geo]

After spending close to a year campaigning on-line for Ms Harris by actively posting against Cooley with news stories of his actions - or Non Actions - I am overwhelmed with gladness!

But also have seen that Voters/Posters did Not ever post or discuss anything about Cooley, never had anything to propose why or how he would make a good AG, but relied upon their prejudices towards Ms Harris.

Even today the posters against Ms Harris cannot give proof or reasons for their Cooley support.
That is why he lost. He is Not the future, but the past. The past of bigotry, the past of selfishness. The ending past of good ol boys clubs running the show!

[Edumacated]

I'm astounded that Cooley lost this one. Hopefully he'll remain the DA for a few more terms - his limits on the 3 Strike law have been equitable, Public Integrity Unit is commendable.

[Michael]

well, gee whiz! what happened Big Guy? how sad for you. guess you're out the door. to think that your lost to a female... must be especially painful.
now you can gather up all your trophies and get the heck outta Dodge.
such a pedantic, slob of an old man.....

[bigstew]

"Headline: 1 in 5 Americans Metally Ill"
It has to be closer to 3 in 5 in California as the re-election of Brown and Boxer is the proof. The election of Harris is just another nail in the coffin of California.

[vancouverbob]

San Francisco is grateful to the State of California for ridding us of this piece of nonsense. You'll see.

[Stan]

why do you have a pic of Cooley if Harris won the race? race? gender? get it right: she won! give her the respect she deserves.

[CWHATIMEAN]

this state is sinking into the abyss, it is not good here, no reason really to cheer, go look at the empty retail and commercial spots, unemployment is growing and Calif has one of the highest rates of UE. so why the cheering? I still do not see any solutions to any of these politicians. You're crazy if you think you can run a state w/o business. With all of your crazy social and environmental policies you're making it harder and harder to start a business, let alone surviving even if you can make it through the rigorous torturous process Calif puts you through just to get your doors open.

[J.G. White]

Club A: do you think CA will miss you? No, we will miss you or any one with your thoughts.

[Mike]

There Is A God! Cooley the Inquisitor Lost !!!!!! Human lives are no longer in jeopardy!

[eddie monstor]

Good job Ms. Harris. I think Cooley rested too much on tired out "hard on crime" punch lines. After all is said and done, he did not deserve to win. Give'm hell Ms. Harris.

[big al]

So democracy works. Thus this will be an afront to the Fox Tea Party dittoheads who worship at the false alter of hate.

[HUITZILOR]

WE CALIFORNIANS UNDERSTAND THAT THE FISCAL FIASCO OUR STATE AND NATION ARE IN IS DUE TO AN ABSOLUTE NEGLIGENCE OF A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND HAS BEEN INRERITED TO OUR PRECIOUS NATION BY (EIGHT YEARS OF SPENDING AND INACTIVITY OF) A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT

[Westcoastliberal]

Congrats to Ms Harris; I'm certain she will do a fantastic job of applying our laws fairly and equitably, and go after the "bad guys" (i.e. Banksters).

As for Cooley, we probably narrowly dodged a bullet and I'm giving thanks this year that this ego-driven blowhard will not be in a position to cause even more harm to the people of our great state.

As for the comment previously posted by "Club A", we won't be missing you from the scene here in CA, you can stay home in Alabama. Roll Tide.

[J.G. White]

Raymon, are you saying Ms. Harris did not win the election fair because she is a woman, and an African American? Your statements speak for the person you are.

[sayunome]

To the Sun Newspaper of San Bernardino: Another bites the dust.

[sfo5000]

RE: "As long as Kamala Harris is AG, I will not visit California for any reason. Her record in San Fran speaks for itself. She is a danger to this state but a blessing for criminals" Club A

It's a price the state will have to pay..........but we'll get by

[LaLiloo]

Thank goodness. Cooley is a slimeball supreme (which makes me wonder about his supporters...we don't need your kind visiting our tolerant and open minded state), and I'm hoping he'll be true to his word and leave California. Congratulations, Kamala Harris! And Nick Greville...there's nothing wrong with this state. It's what's right with this state, and wrong with the rest of the angry, hateful, bigoted, ignorant, tea-bagging country that votes Repugs into office.

[john]

why would anyone vote for anyone from San Francisco ...

i am just so tired of librals. we went down this road when i was young let me explain. when you give things away to people who did not earn it, it then cost you money if you dont mine paying for everyone else thats fine. i care i am feed up paying for everyone and then not having enough for my own. i am tired of having to explain no you cant have the same free lunch that child has because you daddy makes to much money. And becuse the charge to much money for the same meal we cant eford it for our selves here is a cold sack lunch, with great food in it

[Sai-pha]

For those who are commenting about not visiting Califas or stating that Harris would be bad for Cali then do yourself a favor and not come to Califas. We are okay without that. I'm glad that Harris is a strong supporter to abolish the death penalty. For those who talk about harris protecting criminals, what would you say to a mother who had their daughter killed and the victim is awaiting the death penalty, only for the mother to come out and say she doesn't want the death penalty on the man who murder her daughter and feels that the death penalty should be abolish. No one can argue with this mother. She recognizes that the death penalty is not the way to "punish" the man for killing her daughter.

[Rita]

Kamela Harris is an inspriation...intellilgent, compassionate and I'm proud I voted for her...I work in Marin county and have been well aware of her for years...California is in no danger, except for Sarah Palin, that's who we really have to worry about!