Republican Rob McCoy concedes Ventura County Assembly race
Reporting from Sacramento — Democrat Jacqui Irwin has won an Assembly seat in Ventura County, in a race that attracted a surge of independent spending.
Republican Rob McCoy conceded to Irwin late Tuesday, his campaign confirmed Wednesday morning.
They were vying for a post held by moderate Republican Assemblyman Jeff Gorell of Camarillo, who passed up a reelection bid to run for Congress.
Irwin is a Thousand Oaks City Council member. McCoy is a pastor at Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park.
Both the Republican and Democratic parties spent significantly in the race, but outside groups also poured resources into it.
There was nearly $1 million in independent spending in the 44th Assembly District, the vast majority to boost Irwin, whose backers included labor groups and business interests.
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