Sen. Toni Atkins Formally Enters 2026 Gubernatorial Race

At a press conference in San Diego on Friday, Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) announced that she will be running for Governor of California in 2026.

Atkins, a former San Diego City Councilwoman, San Diego Mayor, Assemblywoman and Senator has been hinting for months of a possible run, initially interest in the Lieutenant Governor position. However, following the August announcement of Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) replacing her President Pro Tempore of the Senate later this year, Atkins shifted focus to the Governor’s office. By November, it looked like she was in the final stretch to formally declaring and joining the three other candidates who had declared earlier in 2023:  Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Former Controller and current California Democratic Party Vice President Betty Yee, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond.

She 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. Less than 24 hours later, on Friday, she finally announced in San Diego.

“I don’t really fit the mold of past governors or even some of the fellow candidates,” Atkins said on Friday. “Clearly I’m not a man. I wasn’t born into wealth or privilege. And I wasn’t appointed to my first big political office. My story is much more like the Californians that I meet every day. I don’t come from wealth, I don’t have that to fall back on. So I am going to have to raise money, and fortunately, I’ve had experience doing that as the Speaker and the Pro Tem to protect my caucuses.”

“I have negotiated eight on-time budgets with two different governors, and I’ve been able to go toe-to-toe and support the programs and policies that matter most in people’s everyday lives. I know the work is going to be daunting. I know it’s going to be hard. I’m going to spend every waking minute figuring out how to introduce myself to people across California.”

“We want to preserve what we’ve done. It took a lot of work. I would not gravitate toward raising taxes in this moment. I don’t think it’s called for yet.”

Atkins announces 2026 run

In addition to boosting traits and past actions that would make for being a Governor, Atkins also stressed how she would be the first woman and LGBT Governor in state history if she wins. With Attorney General Rob Bonta and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa rumored to be planning possible runs, experts noted on Friday that the Gubernatorial election would be very crowded at the primary level because of no incumbents being in the race.

“Atkins coming in brings another big dog to the fight, and she is likely not the last major Democrat to announce either,” said gubernatorial pollster Guillermo Williams to the Globe. “We’d need a preliminary poll, but there is no “Wow” candidate up just yet. That, and the fact that there is no incumbent, just keeps adding people in. Atkins has a lot of San Diego support, support from female voters, and support from LGBT, and that’s just at the surface level. Add in her experience, and that’s one tough cookie.”

“For Democrats, if Bonta and a few others jump in, the party may send out signals for people to stop entering the race, as they don’t want a free-for-all in the primary. For Republicans out there, the more the merrier, because it will make it all the easier for a GOP candidate to enter when the Democratic vote is this split, at least in the primary. The Democrats have a bunch of experienced people going in. For the GOP, not many people from that party hold elected office in California, at least outside the local level, so getting candidates in there is hard. They have been getting more and more success with people with big names and some political actions like appointments and fundraising experience to get in the last few decades. Alan Autry as the Mayor of Fresno, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Governor, and, right now, it looks like Steve Garvey can break on through to the general with how well he is doing.  Don’t be surprised when a big name enters there for the GOP, denounces Newsom and is suddenly leading all the Dems in Gubernatorial polls. Republicans shouldn’t be fretting right now. We are years away still.”

“But, as for today, Atkins is now the fourth candidate to enter the race. She has the most experience, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she will get the votes. Look at Barbara Lee in the Senate race for proof of that.”

More candidates are expected to announce Gubernatorial runs in the coming months.