California Attorney General Rob Bonta won’t run for governor, ending months of speculation about him eyeing the crowded 2026 contest.
Instead, the Democrat will seek reelection as attorney general and back former Vice President Kamala Harris if she jumps into the fray to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom after his final term ends. Aides say Harris is weighing her options after returning home to Los Angeles.
“Kamala Harris would be a great governor,” Bonta told POLITICO, noting he hasn’t spoken directly with Harris about it. “I would support her if she ran, I’ve always supported her in everything she’s done. She would be field-clearing.”
The former state lawmaker said he was seriously considering a run last year but changed his mind after Republican President Donald Trump defeated Harris. Even before then, other top contenders — like former Rep. Katie Porter, who last March lost her bid for California Senate — were already making moves to run, complicating his path.
But Bonta said he feels a calling to lead California’s legal defense as the state faces off with Trump over a flurry of executive orders on immigration, gender, climate change and more.
Trump’s return to power instantly elevated Bonta’s position as AG for the nation’s largest state. In the two-plus weeks since the inauguration, he has embraced his role as the face of California’s legal resistance to the president’s policies — as Newsom and other top Democrats take a more measured approach in an effort to improve relations with the bombastic commander-in-chief.
“It’s important to always assess the moment that you’re in,” Bonta said. “The political world changes in seconds, overnight at times.”
His decision not to run for the state’s top office reshapes the governor’s race.
Among the Democrats already in the crowded contest: Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Senate leader Toni Atkins, former state Controller Betty Yee and state schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond. But the field could change in an instant if Harris, Porter or former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra — Bonta’s predecessor — enter the fray.
The chatter is growing around Porter, in particular. In recent weeks, her camp has touted internal polling that found her in a commanding position. She’s also traveled to Sacramento for meetings with lawmakers and other powerbrokers. And her PAC stoked speculation with a playful email to donors. The subject line: “2026 starts now.”
Bonta, a progressive with strong ties to labor unions, shares close allies and advisers with Porter. His decision to take a pass could help her gain traction with labor and the party’s progressive base.
His announcement also comes as he’s faced scrutiny over his campaign contributions. The AG last year returned — or donated — more than $160,00 in contributions after Playbook raised questions about the sources of the funds and his work as AG. The San Francisco Chronicle reported last week that Bonta accepted $16,200 in contributions from a Southern California casino while it was under investigation by his office.
Dan Newman, a senior adviser to Bonta’s reelection campaign, said the AG’s decision about 2026 was unrelated to those reports. Newman told Playbook that the “whole conversation” has been about Bonta’s responsibilities as AG and how it’s “become exponentially bigger and more important” during Trump’s second term.
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