By Robert J. Hansen | OBSERVER Staff Writer
Kevin McCarty has officially defeated Dr. Flojaune Cofer in the race to become the 57th mayor of Sacramento. He is the second Black mayor of Sacramento.
The certified county election results showed McCarty winning by just under two thousand votes.
As of 3 p.m. Monday, McCarty won 50.51% of the votes compared to Cofer’s 49.49%.
After he declared victory on Nov. 26, McCarty said he was “ready to start the hard work needed to move Sacramento forward.”
Dr. Cofer has conceded and has congratulated mayor-elect Kevin McCarty.
She reflected on the movement her campaign built over the past 20 months and said she “proved that Sacramento believes that more is possible.”
“We proved that Sacramento is a city filled with people who want effective solutions without compromising our compassion. We proved that there is viability and popularity in running a people-powered campaign without taking corporate contributions. We lived out our values by focusing on the vision for Sacramento and not maligning our opponents in the primary or general elections. We led with love and had a great time doing it,” Cofer said in a statement.
She added that she is committed to supporting and collaborating with the new administration making sure it succeeds in making Sacramento a city where everyone can thrive.
McCarty said his top two priorities when he takes office on Dec. 10 are to streamline more jobs in Sacramento and to call for an audit on funds spent on addressing homelessness at a Nov. 27 press conference.
McCarty said that Cofer brought meaningful conversations to the discussions at the roughly 30 forums held leading up to the election.
“She (Cofer) brought issues to the forefront and made me a better candidate,” McCarty said at the press conference.
Cofer, an epidemiologist and progressive activist, ran for Sacramento mayor in 2024, focusing on addressing homelessness, enhancing public safety, and promoting economic prosperity. Additionally, she emphasized tenant protection, affordable housing development, and sustainable economic growth.
McCarty’s campaign focused on addressing homelessness, enhancing public safety, and promoting economic prosperity.
Additionally, he emphasized tenant protections, affordable housing development, and sustainable economic growth. He said his extensive experience in local governance and legislative affairs positions him to tackle Sacramento’s pressing issues effectively.
McCarty will be sworn in on Dec. 10 along with two incoming council members, Roger Dickinson and Phil Pluckebaum.