American Foundation for Equal Rights

Kamala Harris wins California’s Attorney General Race

For Immediate Release: November 24, 2010
Contact: Brandon Hersh 202-412-9766 / brandon@afer.org

Official statement by Chad Griffin, Board President, American Foundation for Equal Rights:

“This morning Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley conceded defeat in the statewide Attorney General race. Now, San Francisco Dist. Atty. Kamala Harris is set to be California’s top law enforcement official.

“Today’s decision in the Attorney General race means that equality triumphed in every California statewide race.

“The contrast with 2008, when despite the historic election of President Obama, Prop. 8 was passed by the voters, is startling. This year equality triumphed in California. One key difference is that the vitriol of the Yes On 8 campaign has been replaced by a substantive discussion of the facts through efforts like the Foundation’s successful federal court case for marriage equality.

“This nation was founded on the principle that all Americans are created equal, and our Constitution requires that every American be treated equally under the law. That is something all Americans can agree on, and more and more people are understanding that marriage equality is rooted in our nation’s fundamental values.”

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