It's over. Democrat TJ Cox wins in the 21st. Three-termer Valadao concedes Thursday

“Representing the Central Valley in Congress has been the honor of a lifetime. There are truly no words to express how grateful I am to my supporters, neighbors, and all those who make the Central Valley such an amazing place,” stated Valadao in a press release to The Leader.

“There is no doubt we are disappointed in the results, but we can take pride in knowing that we brought about real, tangible change,” continued the three-term congressman. “We have reduced taxes for middle-class families, made huge strides in our battle for water, reformed the dairy industry for thousands of California farmers, improved access to healthcare for families throughout the Valley, and given our troops the support they deserve.

"Despite the outcome of this election, we must remain deliberate in our efforts to improve our community. There is always work to be completed, and I can’t wait to see what else our community can accomplish. 

"The Central Valley has always been and will always be my home, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have served the place I love.”

Cox was just as gracious, in return thanking Valadao for his service.

“I thanked Congressman Valadao and his family for their service to our country and our communities during the past six years,” stated Cox. “As the Congressman knows well, it is a great honor to be chosen to represent the people of the 21st District in the House of Representatives. We will work together to ensure a smooth transition for our constituents. I’m looking forward to getting to work on making a positive difference in the lives of our hard-working families.”

All the votes have been counted, and as of Thursday Cox leads by 892 votes. The newly-elected representative didn’t win in Kings County where Valadao easily beat back the Democrat’s challenge, amassing 18,725 votes to Cox’s 11,566.

The difference ended up coming from Kern County where Cox rolled up a big margin of victory, capturing 62.2 percent of the vote to Valadao’s 38.8 percent. Cox outpolled Valadao 23,988 to 15,196.