This post was updated Nov. 3 at 10:27 p.m.
Democrat Rob Bonta won a second term as California’s attorney general, the Associated Press announced Tuesday.
Bonta received 63.6% of the vote share in the midterm election, defeating Republican Michael Gates, who received 36.4% of the vote as of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the AP. Bonta and Gates received 56.6% and 37.9% of the vote share during the June 2 primary election, respectively.
The California attorney general – the state’s top lawyer and law enforcement official – represents California in state and federal supreme courts, assists district attorneys and oversees state law enforcement.
Bonta, a Filipino immigrant, has served as attorney general for five years after replacing former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and winning the 2022 attorney general election. Bonta previously served in the California State Assembly for eight years.
Throughout his campaign, Bonta pledged to counter the Trump administration’s impact on California. He has filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration during his time in office, according to his campaign website.
Gates – a former trial attorney and prosecutor – pledged to protect and support local governments, manage funds more efficiently and allocate more funding toward local law enforcement if elected, according to his campaign website.
Gates and Bonta’s campaigns did not immediately respond in time to requests for comment on the results.
