Assemblymember Kevin McCarty emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle to become the next mayor of Sacramento, defeating newcomer Flojaune “Flo” Cofer in a closely contested race focused on issues of homelessness and public safety policy.

Cofer graciously conceded the race in a statement released on Tuesday, revealing that she had reached out to McCarty the night before to offer her congratulations. The two candidates engaged in a candid conversation about the future of Sacramento, with Cofer expressing her commitment to supporting the new administration led by McCarty.

McCarty had declared victory the previous week, but Cofer waited until the final vote count was completed before officially acknowledging the results. The final tally, released by the county on Tuesday, showed McCarty winning by a slim margin of just 1,938 votes, securing 50.5 percent of the total votes compared to Cofer’s 49.5 percent.

As a long-serving Democratic assemblymember representing Sacramento, McCarty was seen as the more moderate candidate in the race to succeed outgoing Mayor Darrell Steinberg. In contrast, Cofer, a progressive activist who gained prominence in the aftermath of the police shooting of Stephon Clark, ran on a platform that leaned further to the left.

McCarty faced stiff competition in the primary from two other moderate Democrats, but ultimately emerged as the frontrunner. Cofer positioned herself to the left of McCarty in the general election, allowing him to critique her more liberal policy positions.

One point of contention in the campaign was Cofer’s proposal to establish sanctioned homeless campsites in “underutilized parks,” which McCarty’s supporters seized upon to paint her as advocating for placing homeless individuals in the city’s most popular green spaces. In response, Cofer criticized McCarty for aligning himself with Steinberg’s approach of repeatedly clearing homeless encampments without addressing the root causes of homelessness.

Despite their differences on key issues, both candidates expressed a commitment to working together for the betterment of Sacramento. Cofer’s gracious concession and pledge of support for McCarty’s administration signaled a willingness to collaborate and move forward in addressing the challenges facing the city.

As Kevin McCarty prepares to take the helm as mayor of Sacramento, all eyes will be on how he navigates the complex issues of homelessness, public safety, and community development, with the support of his former opponent and the broader Sacramento community behind him.