Current:Home > StocksCalifornia Senate leader Toni Atkins announces run for governor in 2026-LoTradeCoin
California Senate leader Toni Atkins announces run for governor in 2026
View Date:2025-01-11 20:33:40
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The leader of the California Senate on Friday said she would run for governor in 2026, entering a campaign that is far from the minds of voters but is quickly filling with candidates in a state that requires frequent fundraising to compete in some of the nation’s most expensive media markets.
Toni Atkins, a Democrat from San Diego, made history as only the third person and the first woman to hold both of the state Legislature’s top jobs — speaker of the Assembly and president pro tempore of the Senate.
Atkins is still in the latter role, but plans to step down early next month as she enters the final year of her term and cannot seek reelection because of term limits.
California, despite its progressive reputation, has never had a woman or an openly LGBTQ governor. Atkins, who is a lesbian, could be both. But she’ll have to compete against a strong field of Democrats, including Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Controller Betty Yee and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. Attorney General Rob Bonta is also considering a run to succeed current Gov. Gavin Newsom, who cannot seek a third term.
Kounalakis, Thurmond, Yee and Bonta have the benefit of appearing — and winning — in a statewide election, meaning voters will be familiar them. Atkins has only ever been elected by voters in San Diego.
But she is well-versed in the inner workings of the Capitol and policymaking. She has negotiated multibillion-dollar budgets and major legislation with two governors. And she has a compelling personal story — growing up in a house with no running water in rural Virginia before making her way out West and becoming one of the most powerful elected officials in the state.
“I certainly don’t fit the mold of past governors or even some of the candidates that will be in this race,” Atkins said. “I’m going to lean on my story, because I think Californians are going to want someone more like them.”
Atkins came to California in 1985 to help care for her sister’s young son. She later worked at a women’s health clinic that performed abortions before getting elected to the San Diego City Council. She had a brief stint as mayor before getting elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and the state Senate in 2016.
In the Legislature she worked with former Gov. Jerry Brown and Newsom to craft a series of budgets marked by multibillion-dollar surpluses. That ended last year when the state had a multibillion-dollar deficit.
Newsom has steadfastly refused sweeping tax increases to balance the budget — something Atkins, too, said she would try to stay away from if she were elected governor.
“We want to preserve what we’ve done. It took a lot of work,” Atkins said. “I would not gravitate toward raising taxes in this moment. I don’t think it’s called for yet.”
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Colts' Kenny Moore II ridicules team's effort in loss to Bills
- Montana Indian reservation works to revive bison populations
- Maui County releases names of 388 people unaccounted for since the devastating wildfires
- 'Call 911': Rescued woman was abducted by man posing as Uber driver, authorities say
- Jake Paul's only loss led him to retool the team preparing him to face Mike Tyson
- Alabama teen charged with capital murder after newborn infant found in trash bin
- Among last of Donald Trump's co-defendants to be booked: Kanye West's former publicist
- Texas prosecutor says he will not seek death penalty for man in slayings of 2 elderly women
- The NBA Cup is here. We ranked the best group stage games each night
- Hot air balloon pilot safely lands on Vermont highway after mid-flight wind issues: Reports
Ranking
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- Bray Wyatt was a creative genius who wasn't afraid to take risks, and it more than paid off
- Peacock adored by Las Vegas neighborhood fatally shot by bow and arrow
- A father describes rushing his 7-month-old to safety during a California biker bar shooting
- When do new episodes of 'Cobra Kai' Season 6 come out? Release date, cast, where to watch
- Police arrest a 4th teen in a drive-by shooting that killed a 5-year-old Albuquerque girl
- Spain's Jenni Hermoso says she's 'victim of assault,' entire national team refuses to play
- Trey Lance trade fits: Which NFL teams make sense as landing spot for 49ers QB?
Recommendation
-
What is prize money for NBA Cup in-season tournament? Players get boost in 2024
-
'I don’t like the situation': 49ers GM John Lynch opens up about Nick Bosa's holdout
-
US Forest Service rejects expansion plans of premier Midwest ski area Lutsen Mountains
-
One Direction's Liam Payne Hospitalized for Bad Kidney Infection
-
Burger King is giving away a million Whoppers for $1: Here's how to get one
-
Russian court extends U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention by 3 months, state news agency says
-
Miley Cyrus Reveals Why Filming Used to Be Young Was So Emotional
-
Police ID killer in 1987 cold case on hiking trail that has haunted Yavapai County