Laird Concedes in Special Election

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Former Democratic Assemblyman John Laird has conceded the special election to fill a vacant California state Senate seat.

Laird, of Santa Cruz, said Wednesday that he called Republican Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee about midnight Tuesday to congratulate him.

Blakeslee will represent the Central Coast's 15th Senate District, the seat formerly held by current Republican Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado.

Laird was endorsed by President Barack Obama and carried three of the district's five counties. He blamed his loss on the low turnout that typically characterizes summer special elections.

In unofficial returns, Blakeslee won with 48.8 percent of the vote to Laird's 44.1 percent.