This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
Attorney General Rob Bonta announces he won't run for governor
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is briefed by members of his Civil Rights Enforcement Section on litigation challenging the Trump administration at his offices in downtown Los Angeles.
(
Allen J. Schaben
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that he will not run for governor late Sunday, saying he does not want to walk away from his current role defending California and will instead seek reelection as attorney general.
Bonta’s potential entrance into the race has been anticipated for months, but in an interview with Politico and subsequent statement, Bonta said the state needs a “battle-tested” top prosecutor to defend against attacks from the Trump administration. Bonta’s office has sued the federal government more than 50 times in the past year.
“Watching this dystopian horror come to life has reaffirmed something I feel in every fiber of my being: In this moment, my place is here — shielding Californians from the most brazen attacks on our rights and our families,” he said.
The current field of candidates running for governor includes a number of Democrats. Among them: former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter; East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire businessman Tom Steyer.
Polls in the second half of 2025 showed the race wide open, with large numbers of voters undecided and support among Republicans split between two GOP candidates: businessman Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
-
The city's housing authority says a pandemic-era housing voucher program could wind down by November, leaving thousands at risk of homelessness. -
The banner, seen on live TV, calls for a probe into the Eaton wildfire. -
If you work in law enforcement or the health care field, new state laws will regulate what you can and can’t do with AI on the job.
Given the large number of Democrats splitting support and the difficulty a Republican would have winning statewide in California, it’s possible that the June primary could result in a November runoff between one of the GOP candidates and a Democrat. If that’s the case, the June primary could effectively decide who becomes the state’s next governor.
Sponsored message
Bonta, a former Oakland lawmaker, has repeatedly made headlines in 2025, as his office filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration, making him a prominent face of the state’s resistance to the president’s agenda. As a state lawmaker, he was known as a progressive, pushing laws that furthered criminal justice reform and strengthened worker, immigrant and renter rights.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
