SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) – Former state insurance commissioner Dave Jones conceded to Angelique Ashby in the State Senate District 8 race on Tuesday afternoon, three weeks after the polls closed on Election Day.

In a statement, Jones said he called Ashby to “wish her well” in her new position as state senator for the region that includes the cities of Sacramento and Elk Grove and the communities of Elverta and Rio Linda.

Ashby released her own statement soon after, saying, “For over a decade, I have fought hard for Sacramento families, and I decided the best way for me to continue doing the most good for as many people as possible was to take that fight to the State Capitol.”

Ashby had led in the race since the early results had started trickling in after Election Day.

The current state senator of the area —when it was a different district— Richard Pan, has been serving since 2014 and is termed out.

Ashby has been on the Sacramento City Council since 2010, representing District 1, which is compromised mainly of the Natomas area. She ran for but lost the race for Sacramento mayor in 2016.

Jones has a decades-long career in public office, joining the Sacramento City Council in 1999 and holding his seat until 2004, then being elected as an Assembly member and later California Insurance Commissioner.