Former California State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins announced Monday that she is dropping out of the 2026 governor’s race, a decision that further reshapes an already fluid contest to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Atkins, a San Diego Democrat and one of the most experienced lawmakers in the state, cited the lack of a “viable path forward to victory” in a letter to supporters. Despite entering the race with a strong résumé, a multi-million-dollar campaign fund and backing from organized labor, she never broke out of single digits in statewide polls.
Her departure highlights the challenges faced by even the most seasoned Sacramento insiders in California’s expensive, personality-driven statewide races. While Atkins was praised for her pragmatism and long legislative record, she struggled to compete with better-known figures promising to confront President Donald Trump directly or those with higher national profiles.
The Democratic field remains crowded. Former Rep. Katie Porter continues to lead in early polling, with former U.S. Attorney General Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also in the race. U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla is weighing a bid, while Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis dropped out earlier to pursue another statewide office. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton are testing their chances as Republicans in a deeply Democratic state.
Atkins’ exit could shift attention and donors toward Porter and Becerra, while also clearing space for Padilla should he enter. Her decision underscores how fractured the Democratic field remains, with no single candidate yet consolidating broad support across California’s diverse electorate.
The departure also removes the only LGBTQ candidate from the race, a notable absence in a state that has historically been at the forefront of LGBTQ rights. Atkins, who made history as the first woman and the first openly LGBTQ person to lead the California Senate, had championed policies on housing affordability, reproductive rights and LGBTQ protections. Her candidacy could have been another milestone for representation, though she said she did not believe bias played a role in her low polling numbers.
Atkins leaves the race pointing to affordability and looming budget shortfalls as defining issues for California’s next governor. “A key issue for a governor is going to have to be looking at our budget and how to address the issue of our revenue shortfalls,” she said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, adding that housing and health care remain top concerns for residents.
While she will not seek another office in 2026, Atkins said she intends to remain politically engaged. Her exit, however, underscores the dominance of name recognition and fundraising capacity in California’s statewide contests. Even a well-funded legislative veteran found the path to the governor’s office elusive.
With Atkins gone, the race narrows but remains unsettled, signaling a potentially volatile primary season ahead.
Sources: KQED, San Francisco Chronicle, CalMatters, KCRA
