Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta won reelection Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Michael Gates, according to The Associated Press.

AP called the race at 8:28 p.m. PST Tuesday. In its 7:20 a.m. PST update Wednesday, Nov. 4, Bonta had 4,901,507 votes, or 63.8%, compared with Gates’ 2,781,267 votes, or 36.2%. AP estimated that 60% of votes had been counted.

AP has declared Bonta the winner. Counting continues, and vote totals remain unofficial until canvassing and certification are complete.

California attorney general results

The following figures appeared in AP’s 7:20 a.m. PST update Nov. 4:

Candidate

Party

Votes

Percentage

Rob Bonta, incumbent — AP winner

Democratic

4,901,507

63.8%

Michael E. Gates

Republican

2,781,267

36.2%

Bonta led Gates by 2,120,240 votes in that update. AP’s estimate of votes counted is separate from the percentage of precincts reporting.

What the office does

The attorney general heads the California Department of Justice and serves as the state’s chief law enforcement officer.

The office’s work affects residents across California through consumer protection, housing enforcement, civil rights, environmental protection and public safety, according to the Department of Justice.

Its responsibilities include representing the state in legal proceedings and enforcing state laws, according to the Secretary of State’s description of the office.

The candidates

Bonta took office in April 2021 and won election to a full term in 2022, according to his official biography and swearing-in announcement. Before becoming attorney general, he served in the state Assembly and worked as a deputy city attorney in San Francisco.

Gates previously served as Huntington Beach’s city attorney and as a deputy assistant attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice, according to his campaign biography and a federal Justice Department record.

Gates emphasized public safety and his experience as a trial attorney and prosecutor in his official candidate statement.

Where to follow results

Readers can follow additional returns through AP’s California attorney general results page and the California Secretary of State’s results website.

Mail ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by county election officials by Nov. 10 can still be counted if otherwise valid, according to state ballot-return guidance.

Official certified statewide results will be posted by Dec. 11, according to the state’s voter information guide. AP’s race call is separate from the official canvassing and certification process.