Sen. Toni Atkins Files Paperwork To Run For Governor In 2026

State Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office on Thursday for the purpose of raising money for a Gubernatorial bid, all but confirming her status as a candidate in the upcoming 2026 California Gubernatorial election.

Originally from Virginia, Atkins moved to San Diego at the age of 23 in 1985. Originally the Director of Clinic Services at the Womancare Health Center, Atkins soon moved into politics and became the council representative and policy analyst for San Diego City Councilwoman Christine Kehoe. When Kehoe became an Assemblywoman in 2000, Atkins ran for and won her old Council seat, and was reelected in 2004. In 2005, following a series of financial issues and fraud cases that caused Mayor Dick Murphy and several city Councilmembers to resign, Atkins became Mayor for the rest of the year and subsequently became the first openly lesbian Mayor of the city.

In 2010, she began a six-year stint in the Assembly, with two of those years also serving as the Speaker. However, she had to step down as speaker in 2016 due in part to criticism over a bill she supported which limited public agency oversight of power companies. Despite this, she ran for state Senate in 2016 and won. During her first term, she tried and failed to pass SB 50, a bill that would have preempted local government control of land zoning near public transit stations and jobs centers to build more housing. Republicans and many fellow Democrats attacked the bill, with Atkins even using her powers to bypass a committee which had been highly critical of it. Despite her efforts, SB 50 ultimately failed to pass in the Senate in 2019.

Since 2018, Atkins has been the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, although she is due to be replaced this year by Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg). In recent years, Atkins has also brought a renewed focus towards LGBT and womens health issues in the Senate, backing bills that added an abortion rights constitutional amendment, increased the number of nurse practitioners performing abortions, end abortion co-pays, and ended the anti-LGBT state travel ban to over half the country. Since 2021, Atkins has also been actively fundraising for a 2026 run for Lieutenant Governor, initially resisting aiming for the top post itself.

This led to her gubernatorial aspirations. In November, she first hinted at a possible run, saying she was interested in the office.

“I’m very interested in looking at that possibility of running for governor,” said Atkins in November. “I am looking at it seriously. I sort of feel like I’m addicted to responsibility. I think experience counts and matters, and I believe I have experience to continue to contribute in some way. I see what you can do when you’re in that role. There is something about being at the table.”

In the last few months, it became more and more likely that she would run, leading to the Thursday filing and the promise of a major announcement on Friday in San Diego, with Atkins likely to formally announce her candidacy.

Atkins will enter a field of three other candidates who gave early announcements for a Gubernatorial run last year.  Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Former Controller and current California Democratic Party Vice President Betty Yee, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond are currently all official candidates, although others, such as Attorney General Rob Bonta and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are rumored to be planning possible runs as well.

“Everyone is dreading her coming in, as she has by far the most experience,” said  said gubernatorial pollster Guillermo Williams to the Globe. “Also, she checks a lot of boxes. Female. Experienced. LGBT. Not being from San Francisco or LA. She does have a lot of issues around her, with the religious vote not going her way at all due to her stance on abortion for example. But she would become the biggest name in the race.”

“Newsom is out and we’ll have an open Governor’s chair. Atkins won’t be the last one to go in. A bunch of Democrats will be jumping in, as well as a few Republicans hoping for a big dust up between all the Dems.”

Atkins is expected to announce formally on Friday in San Diego.