The Abridged version:
- Flojaune Cofer recently ran a competitive campaign for Sacramento mayor in 2024, losing by just 1,938 votes.
- Cofer said Tuesday she will run for the District 1 seat on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on June 2, which has been held by Phil Serna since 2009.
- Cofer, known popularly as “Dr. Flo,” has a background in public health and epidemiology.
Flojaune Cofer is joining the race for the District 1 seat on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
The seat has been long held by Supervisor Phil Serna, who announced last fall that he will not be seeking a fifth term. District 1 covers much of the city of Sacramento’s boundaries.
Cofer, known popularly as “Dr. Flo,” recently ran a competitive campaign for Sacramento mayor in 2024. She lost narrowly to now-Mayor Kevin McCarty by 1,938 votes.
In a news release, Cofer’s campaign described that it was the closest race in mayoral history and that she’s “bringing that momentum to county leadership.”
“County decisions shape our lives at the moments that matter most — during public health emergencies, housing crises, floods, wildfires and when families need care and support,” Cofer said in a written statement.
“I’m running because Sacramento County can do better by the people who live
here — and because leadership at this level must be transparent, accountable and rooted in
care.”
Before entering local politics, Cofer worked in public health. She has a doctorate in epidemiology from the University of Michigan and was a senior director of policy at Public Health Advocates until 2024.
‘More is possible’
Cofer told Abridged that she’s sticking to her campaign slogan from the mayor’s race, which was “more is possible.”
During her campaign for mayor, she said she was often asked what she would do about homelessness and how she would work with the county. She said that her background in public health makes her well-suited for the job.
“That’s what our campaign brings, is expertise and community experience and also a willingness to listen and come up with solutions,” Cofer said.
All county programs on the table
As a supervisor, Cofer would have to deal with county budget deficits and major cuts in federal funding for social services and Medi-Cal.
“I want us to put everything on the table and say ‘What’s working that we should keep? What are we doing that isn’t working that we should fix? And, what are the things we haven’t done that we should do so we can get the best possible outcome?’” Cofer said.
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Cofer ran her mayoral campaign prominently as a progressive candidate but said she intends to be a candidate that keeps her communication open with all constituents.
“That’s a message I really want people to understand about me, is that I have strong opinions, but I’m also really willing to hear other people out and benefit from their wisdom,” Cofer said.
The election for the District 1 seat is poised to be one of the most competitive the district has seen in decades.
Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra is also running for the seat and was endorsed by Serna. Voters will go to the polls on June 2, with the top two finishers facing off Nov. 4 if no candidate gets a majority in June.
Felicia Alvarez is a reporter at Abridged covering accountability. She’s called Sacramento home since 2015 and has reported on government, health care and breaking news topics for both local and national news outlets.