California Attorney General
During Van de Kamp's administration as California Attorney General, he helped to create the Public Rights Division, which focuses on the enforcement of environmental, consumer protection, anti-trust, and civil rights issues. He also helped to modernize the Department of Justice by beginning support of DNA forensic investigation. He was re-elected easily in 1986.
In 1987, Van De Kamp unsuccessfully led the State's charge against pornography by defending the pandering conviction of adult filmmaker Harold Freeman. Ultimately, the California State Supreme Court overturned Freeman's conviction. Van De Kamp appealed to the United States Supreme Court, who declined to hear the case, thus effectively legalizing the production of adult films.
In 1989, George Deukmejian announced that he would not seek third term as Governor of California the following year. Van de Kamp ran for the office in 1990, hoping to succeed Deukmejian a second time. But Van de Kamp lost the Democratic primary election to Dianne Feinstein.
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