Rob Bonta Rules Out Governor Bid, Will Seek Re‑election as California Attorney General

Overview

• Bonta announced Sunday that he will not enter the 2026 governor's race and will run for another term as attorney general.
• He framed the decision around defending Californians from federal actions, noting his office filed more than 50 suits against the Trump administration over the past year.
• Bonta pointed to recent federal moves, including blocked welfare funds to California and a fatal shooting by a federal immigration agent in Minnesota, as reinforcing his choice.
• The governor's race remains unsettled, with Democrats Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer among declared candidates and Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco dividing GOP support in late‑2025 polling.
• His political standing has faced scrutiny over about $468,000 in campaign spending on legal advice and the return of $155,000 in donations tied to figures in an alleged Oakland bribery case.