Updated election results Thursday gave Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi a victory in the San Francisco sheriff race, becoming the first new face to lead the department in more than 30 years.

“Our position of victory is quite secure,” Mirkarimi told reporters.

He received 38 percent of the total first-place votes among four candidates, and took 53 percent after a preliminary ranked-choice tabulation. Former police union boss Chris Cunnie took the second-most first-place votes with 28 percent, but finished third behind Sheriff’s Department Capt. Paul Miyamoto after the ranked-choice tabulation.

On his website, Cunnie thanked supporters and conceded defeat: “Although it is not the result we wanted, I am so proud of the campaign we ran — and incredibly grateful to our amazing supporters.”

Mirkarimi said he plans to continue the work of popular longtime Sheriff Michael Hennessey, who gave him a pivotal endorsement in the race.

The bid for sheriff was by far the closest candidate race of the Nov. 8 election, with clear front-runners emerging in mayor and DA races by Tuesday night. About 13,000 votes remain to be counted, according to the Department of Elections.

Mirkarimi will leave the District 5 seat open on the Board of Supervisors, a position to be filled by an appointee chosen by Mayor Ed Lee.

dschreiber@sfexaminer.com