The Democratic sweep in California is officially complete, as Republican Steve Cooley has finally conceded to Democrat Kamala Harris in the race to be California's Attorney General:
Steve Cooley conceded defeat today to Kamala Harris in the political slugfest for California attorney general, aides said.
Cooley's concession came 22 days after ballots were cast, with his Democratic opponent, left, holding a lead of about 51,500 votes, representing a lead of about a half percentage points in a race that also attracted four minor candidates.
Harris' victory represents another blow for the Republican Party, which lost statewide races from governor to controller to secretary of state.
This race is important for a few different reasons. First, we've seen how important the role of the Attorney General of California has been in terms of promoting marriage equality--or at least not opposing it. As Attorney General, Jerry Brown refused to defend Proposition 8. Kamala Harris will continue that stance, while Steve Cooley would have opposed it. Furthermore, Kamala Harris is viewed as a rising star in California politics and is often equated with another younger, charismatic mixed-race politician who just happens to be in the White House right now. Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie were desperate to stop Kamala in her tracks and spent over $1 million to defeat her--unprecedented for an Attorney General race here.
But the race is telling for one other reason: it starkly demonstrates the unpopularity of the Republican Party in California. Steve Cooley won election as the District Attorney in Los Angeles County twice--by very comfortable margins. But in his race against Kamala Harris, he lost Los Angeles County by over 14 points.
The difference? His two election victories were nonpartisan races with no party affiliation displayed on the ballot. But in his race against Kamala, the word "Republican" sunk him like an anchor.
