California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Toni Atkins dropped out of the crowded 2026 race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA).
Atkins, the former state Senate president, told supporters Monday she was leaving the race with a “heavy heart” but that “there is simply no viable path forward to victory.”
Atkins had more money in her campaign coffers than any other candidate in the crowded field, as well as support from state lawmakers and leaders. Even so, she believed she could not keep up with candidates with greater name recognition, such as former Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) has also purportedly been considering a run.
An August Emerson survey had Atkins polling at 2%, while a Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll had her at 1%.
Atkins, 63, was vying to be the state’s first woman and first LGBT governor. She was a no-show at a candidate forum over the weekend, citing illness.
Atkins is the daughter of a miner and seamstress and grew up in rural southwestern Virginia. She moved to San Diego in 1985 and led a women’s health clinic. She was also crucial in getting more than a dozen pieces of legislation passed that made it safe for women to get abortions and for medical providers to perform them in California.
Her exit marks the second high-profile candidate to withdraw from the race in less than two months.
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis dropped out in August. She was the first to enter the gubernatorial race more than two years ago but said she will now run for state treasurer. It was odd timing for Kounalakis, who had been unofficially endorsed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) just a day earlier.
There was also talk that former Vice President Kamala Harris would enter the race, but on July 30, she announced she would not run for governor in 2026, ending months of speculation that she might.
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In a statement posted on X, Harris, who lost to President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, wrote: “In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor. I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.”
Harris is now on an international book tour.
