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Karen Goh to be next Bakersfield mayor; opponent Kyle Carter and current Mayor Harvey Hall respond

Posted at 12:16 PM, Dec 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-01 23:20:57-05

The voters have decided: Karen Goh will be Bakersfield's next mayor.

The Kern County Elections Office announced Thursday that officials have completed counting all ballots countywide nearly a month after the general election on November 8.

Karen Goh won the mayor's race with 59,355 votes, compared to challenger Kyle Carter's 53,157 votes.

"I’m honored to be your mayor and I seek your help and I seek your input. Let’s work together," Goh told 23ABC News. "Greater things are yet to come."

At one point on election night, the difference between the two candidates was only a few votes, but Goh eventually took a commanding lead in the following weeks.

Carter said on Thursday that he's proud of his campaign and he wishes Goh all the best.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and that’s what life’s about, but we put up a good fight," Carter said. "I wish Karen much success."

RELATED: Bakersfield City Manager's Office is preparing for Karen Goh as mayor 

Goh will now replace outgoing Mayor Harvey Hall, who announced his retirement following 15 years in office.

RELATED: Kyle Carter, Karen Goh top vote getters for Bakersfield mayoral race, head to runoff

23ABC caught up with Mayor Hall, who said he'll support Goh while he transitions out of office -- and he encourages Bakersfield residents to do the same.

"They need to support Karen as she pursues being the 26th Mayor of the City of Bakersfield and look upon it as a positive opportunity, a new face in city government that can give back to our city and make it better," Hall said.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF WINNERS IN ALL KERN COUNTY RACES