Bonnie Garcia concedes race to Jeff Stone

Bonnie Garcia has conceded the 28th State Senate District race to Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone. Stone maintained a lead over former State Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia throughout the election.

Numbers from Thursday night were at:

Stone 67,613

Garcia 59,208

Garcia released a statement Friday morning announcing her concession. She thanked her supporters for the incredible journey and called Jeff Stone to congratulate him on his victory.

Garcia’s Statement:

Two years ago when I launched my campaign I was asked why I decided to re-enter politics. The truth is, I have been blessed to work with great leaders of both parties to get things done and the worst thing I could do was sit on the sidelines when now more than ever only cooperative governance can solve the problems facing our state.

I have lived and worked in our County for almost 30 years and thought I knew the challenges we faced. As I delved deeper, I learned more about the hardships working families face, the true impact of over-regulation on small businesses and the worry of an aging population that saw their home values and earnings wiped out during the Great Recession.

It has been humbling to be embraced by my community and trusted to find solutions. Along the way, I have been blessed to forge new friendships, strengthen existing ones and meet incredible people brimming with ideas and hopeful for change to build a stronger and better California.

Elections are not about winners or losers, but an opportunity to seek change in how government works. President Theodore Roosevelt said it best in his Citizenship in a Republican Speech:

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds…”

I’m proud of the fact that I stayed true to who I am without straying from my core values and sought to serve the entire community, not just those who voted for me. My sincere desire is that we continue to move in a positive direction to embrace the changing demographics of our Country, rebuild our educational institutions to give every child a fighting chance and strengthen the economy of our state to lift every senior, veteran and family out of poverty.

Going forward, I’m hopeful our leaders will work with ethics and integrity to focus on a common goal of restoring the promise of the Golden State for all of us.

In closing, I want you to know your support and trust in me was very special and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My family, Team Garcia and all our volunteers and supporters are eternally grateful.

Thank you and May God Bless You,

Bonnie Garcia

The only race that remains undecided is Measure U. It’s now ahead by three votes in Coachella with more ballots still to be counted. The Riverside County Registrar of Voters released updated vote totals shortly before 6:00 p.m. Thursday.

Measure U would raise the sales tax in Coachella to 9%. It was losing by just one vote in the previous count. Now it’s ahead by three votes:

Yes 1,049

No 1,046