If’s official, Louis Capps has beaten Abel Maldonado in a cut-throat District 24 race plagued by negative TV ads and repeated verbal attacks by the two campaigns.

Democratic Capps, of Santa Barbara, held off Republican Maldonado, of Santa Maria, in the race to represent the Central Coast in Congress by taking 54.8% of the vote t Maldonado’s 45.2% (119,344-98,391).

Maldonado reportedly conceded to Capps shortly before midnight.

“I spoke with Rep. Lois Capps, and offered her my congratulations on her victory,” he said in a statement.