The contest was too close to call for most of the month. Though Cooley conceded last week Harris waited to be certain before she celebrated with supporters in Los Angeles:
"I stand before you today, humbled to be chosen to be the next Attorney General of the state of CA. cheering fades…"
Harris, the San Francisco District Attorney, is both African-American and Indian-American. She's also the first woman to be elected California Attorney General:
"I'm proud that we can stand here today, recognizing that we don't have to- and one does not have to run from their convictions when they choose to run for office. Clapping fades."
Harris says she plans to fight for civil rights, work to
reduce the state's recidivism rate and help homeowners who've been
cheated in mortgage scams.