Toni Atkins Announces Run to be California’s Next Governor

On Friday, California State Senate Pro Tempore Toni Atkins announced she is running for Governor in 2026. The announcement came in San Diego.

Candidates who already announced to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom in 2026 include:

• Attorney General Rob Bonta
• Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis
• State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond
• Controller Betty Yee

Here is her release:

California Senate Leader Toni Atkins announces run to be California’s next governor

SAN DIEGO – Rallying hundreds of supporters, constituents, neighbors, and friends at the San Diego Air and Space Museum, California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins today launched her campaign for Governor of California.

“In 2026, we have the opportunity to elect a Governor who understands, and has lived, the challenges facing Californians struggling to get by and trying to get ahead,” said Atkins in her remarks. “I am ready to be Governor.”

To learn more about Toni Atkins and her historic run for governor, visit: www.toniatkins.org

Today’s remarks, as prepared, can be read in full below:

Madam Secretary, thank you for the incredible introduction, thank you for your continued friendship over the years, and most important, thank you for welcoming Jennifer and me into the Weber family!

Your dad was a sharecropper. My dad was a lead miner.

They worked hard to give their families—and particularly their kids—a better life.

It was our journeys to California that gave each of us the dream of a better life.

The California Dream was real for us, evidenced by the fact that we stand here today, you as the Secretary of State and me as the Leader of the State Senate. A long way from Hope, Arkansas and South West Virginia.

I know neither of us ever imagined the incredible path or opportunities we would realize.

A path that—for me—today—includes announcing my candidacy to serve as Governor of California!

I use that specific language for a reason. It’s never been my ambition to “be” Governor. But it is my intention to serve as Governor.

I stand here with deep gratitude to San Diego—to the friends, the mentors—Christine Kehoe, I wouldn’t be where I am without you—and the supporters—for all of the opportunities you have offered.

I first heard about California from my dad, who told us about this magical place that he came to while serving in World War II.

I heard more about California, and San Diego, from my twin sister and her husband when they were stationed here.

Before my brother in law was deployed, I moved out here from Virginia to help my sister and my newborn nephew.

And in this land of dreams, I found my passion: working in the service of people.

And that is what I have spent my life doing. How fortunate I am that my little slice of the California Dream could come from helping others find their dreams.

I have a little over two years to reach almost 27 million eligible voters in California.

Based on my speech at our wedding reception, I know Jennifer thinks I am going to try to speak to each one of them individually.

Of course, I can’t do that. But, in asking people for their vote, I do have the obligation to tell folks who I am—and what I’m not.

And before I go any further, I want to say to Jennifer, no announcement I ever make, no words I will ever say, can match getting to lawfully say “I do” standing by your side.

Soon after helping my sister’s family, I found work in a women’s health clinic, Its full name was “Womancare Clinic, a Feminist Women’s Health Center.”

I was 27. And I felt such a weight on my shoulders to make sure the women who were depending on us got the information and treatment they needed.

Our philosophy was empowering them to be able to advocate for themselves in any health care setting. To trust their ability to know their bodies and demand the care and support they deserved from the health care system.

Respecting their decisions and protecting their dignity was always foremost in my mind, especially when they would have to pass through a wall of extremists just to get to their appointments.

It’s because of that experience that years later, as a legislator, I wrote laws to remove obstacles that kept women from getting the care they needed, especially in rural areas and other under-served communities.

And then, after the Dobbs decision leaked and it was clear Roe was going to be overturned, I couldn’t just stand back and let that happen.

I felt that same kind of responsibility. So I authored the constitutional amendment and then led the campaign so that the right to abortion and contraceptives will be protected in California not just for us, but for generations to come.

I want to acknowledge our labor friends who are here today and thank you for everything you do to ensure California workers can be safe and secure as they earn their share of the California Dream.

And a special shout out to the members of the Carpenters, Laborers and United Domestic Workers for being here with me again today. I can’t tell you how much this means to me and I will never forget this.

In 2026, we have the opportunity to elect a Governor who understands, and has lived, the challenges facing Californians struggling to get by and trying to get ahead.

Someone who got free breakfasts at school and went to church camp on a scholarship. Whose parents never had time off and always had a doctor’s bill overdue.

Someone who started out in a home without running water.

We actually had an outhouse and had to carry water from a spring.

That whole experience is part of why as Speaker of the Assembly I spearheaded the largest water bond in state history to protect our water sources and provide clean water to more Californians.

Growing up I learned the value of a dollar. More importantly, I learned the values that help get you through when dollars are scarce.

I mentioned Christine Kehoe. It was my experience working for her and then following her on to the city council, and serving as acting mayor, that really taught me how to build bridges and bring all sides together to solve problems.

That experience has guided my time in the legislature.

I have worked to increase affordable housing for Californians—including our veterans—and that will continue until we get the job done.

I have worked to create jobs and expand educational opportunity, including negotiating broadband improvements so little kids don’t have to do their homework in a Taco Bell parking lot.

I didn’t do well in school until a donated pair of glasses from the local Lions Club helped me see the board and do the lessons. That experience inspires me to try and remove every obstacle we can that gets in the way of California’s children being able to learn.

I have worked to protect victims of crime, including children being trafficked and women facing domestic violence, and we are working in real time to help businesses fighting threats to their stores and employees by mass retail thefts. And that will continue until we get the job done.

I am ready to be Governor.

I have stood eye to eye with two governors as a leader of a co-equal branch of government—the only woman and first person in 150 years to lead both houses of the California Legislature.

As a leader, I negotiated bills on everything from historic climate goals to increasing access to health care. Real actions that have improved the real lives of individuals, families, and communities.

I’ve done the same on state budgets—in good times and bad—balancing eight on-time budgets, building record reserves, and protecting the progress we have made together.

The word governor may not be in my job title, but a lot of similar work sure has been in my job descriptions.

So that’s a little bit of who I am.

Let me also share some of what I am not.

Well, I am not a man. As every other California Governor has been.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love the two Governors I have worked with. And one of the things I’ve liked best about them is how they respect and promote strong women: Anne Gust Brown and my friend Chief of Staff Nancy McFadden. First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Chief of Staff Dana Williamson. That says a lot.

But it’s time to go the extra mile.

Many have said that in 2026, it’s time for California to finally elect a woman Governor.

As the most qualified candidate running for Governor, who also happens to be a woman, I agree!

Look, I am not a product of privilege.

After cobbling together scholarships and holding down multiple jobs, I managed to be the first one in my family to go to college. I want California students from every background and every zip code to have that same chance to change their lives and discover new worlds.

When I was growing up, being able to live in a double-wide trailer was the dream, so the first time I was able to sign escrow papers and buy a little 950-square-foot house in San Diego, it felt unreal.

But it shouldn’t be unreal, it should be reality. Which is why I’ve dedicated much of my career to ensuring that we create more affordable housing and widen the supply of housing—and it’s why I wrote the California Dream for All Act that helps create more homebuyers.

You shouldn’t have to be a millionaire to have a home in California.

Finally, and I want you to hear this from me before you hear it from some other candidate’s opposition research team:

I am not a natural redhead anymore.

But believe me, these are the only roots I will ever turn my back on!

If someone had told me when I first came to California  that I would be here today, I probably would have laughed out loud at how crazy that sounded.

I had always been too different.

Too poor.

Too country.

Too gay.

But thanks to so many of you here today, I have been part of some amazing teams—teams that not only opened doors for me, but helped so many others find opportunity and realize their dreams.

You all know better than most that I am who I am.

Do I think my story provides some kind of golden ticket to the governor’s office? Of course not. But my experience defines me.

In this campaign and as Governor of California I will stay true to the values I was raised on and the people and causes I’ve spent a lifetime fighting for and fighting with.

We’ve got a heck of a lot more work to do if we’re going to get people off our streets and into housing.

We’ve got more work to do to help families afford a place to call home in the communities where they work.

And we need to do more to help people find work in the amazing economies that make up California.

There was a country song that was popular before I came to San Diego.

It went something like this: “All the Gold in California is in a Bank in the Middle of Beverly Hills in Somebody Else’s Name.”

Remember that one? 

You shouldn’t have to be a millionaire to make it in California. You should only have to have a dream—and people who care enough to help you reach it.

Let’s achieve that dream together.

Are you with me?

Are you ready?

Let’s do this!

Thank you!