Former Assembly Speaker and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, a Democrat from San Diego, was seen by many in Sacramento as the most well-suited candidate in the gubernatorial race and had the potential to become a standout figure.
On Monday, however, Atkins announced she is dropping out of the race.
I’m stepping down as a candidate for governor today,” Atkins stated in a letter to her supporters. “Although we have received significant support and accomplished a lot, there is simply no realistic chance of winning.
Emerson College’s latest pollingIn the gubernatorial race, Atkins had slightly more than 1%. She had also only managed to raise approximately $5.8 million for her campaign, which is considered minimal in California, even if she hoped to have $50 million by now.
Atkins admitted on Monday that former Rep. Katie Porter is at the forefront and expressed favorable remarks about her, but also didn’t strongly position himself to support the Democrat from Orange County.
In an interview with the Chronicle, Atkins was questioned about whether she would support any of the remaining declared gubernatorial candidates. She declined to comment, but it appeared she was paying more attention to Sen. Alex Padilla’s possible run for office.
I’m not entirely certain Alex (Padilla) will make the cut,” she said. “Therefore, I believe some time is needed. Keep an eye on it.
From his side, Padilla has increased his political visibility over the last few months, especially after his recent televised clash with Homeland Security officers in Los Angeles, where he was taken to the ground. Having previously served as a Los Angeles City Council president, state senator, California secretary of state, and now a U.S. senator, Padilla offers a wide range of experience to the race and may potentially become California’s first Latino governor.
Atkins was the sole LGBTQ candidate running for governor and stated that rising anti-gay attitudes did not influence her choice to withdraw from the race.
To be honest, I know this is happening across the country, but I didn’t experience it personally. I mean, there’s definitely something going on here against the transgender community specifically, but I didn’t feel that discrimination on the ground,” she said, adding, “Even as a candidate for governor, wherever I went, someone would approach me, whether it was a Democrat or a Republican, and it really surprised me when they said, ‘Thank you for supporting my gay son. Thank you for supporting my trans daughter.’ So I didn’t personally feel that discrimination.
Atkins pointed out that Oregon, Massachusetts, and Colorado have gay governors, “So… I think California was prepared for that. I don’t believe it was my issue or my problem.”
When questioned about the strength of possible Republican candidates advancing to the runoff, Atkins accurately pointed out that it was still premature, and “there are talks about other individuals entering the race … I can’t help but believe one of them will make it to the runoff.”
When asked if she was confident the Democrats could maintain the governorship in 2026, Atkins stated that she had “confidence in Democrats to eventually come together around… one or two individuals so that… it will become evident.”
Atkins also mentioned she isn’t considering running in any other race next year, so what’s her next move?
“I’m uncertain about what the next enthusiasm will be, but I am sure that I will remain involved,” she stated.
Regarding the issues she believes will influence the governor’s election, Atkins highlighted the state’s housing affordability crisis and its approaching budget deficits.
Everyone is discussing affordability, but I believe a crucial matter for a governor will involve examining our budget and figuring out how to tackle our revenue shortages,” she stated, continuing, “And, I mean… that’s something that has kept me up at night… I believe the two main factors affecting affordability in people’s lives are housing security and healthcare.
Atkins also mentioned that she views Gov. Gavin Newsom as a premier candidate for her party’s presidential nomination in 2028.
Well, I need to acknowledge Gavin Newsom for confronting the bully that is the current president,” she said. “This was necessary.
She mentioned that Newsom is “someone who is ready to stand up and resist because what’s occurring is truly unacceptable. Therefore, I believe it might remain uncertain moving forward, but at this point, he is definitely a leading candidate.”
Although Atkins has left the 2026 campaign, her run once more highlighted the power of money in California’s political landscape.
Padilla has 7% support in the Emerson poll (he is fourth, following Porter and two Republicans — TV personality Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco). However, with a few more gubernatorial candidates dropping out, his choice to declare as a candidate may soon become more evident.
Jack Ohman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist and writer who also contributes tohttps://substack.com/@jackohman.
