Michael E. Gates, a Republican from Huntington Beach, is running for California attorney general in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Rob Bonta, according to BallotReady election data.
Gates has been certified for the ballot.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Huntington Beach
- Education: High school diploma, Marina High School; bachelor's degree in business administration and management, Pepperdine University; juris doctor, Chapman University
- Family: Gates says he is a husband of 30 years and father of five, and a lifelong Californian.
Experience and public service
Gates served as Huntington Beach city attorney from 2014 to 2025, according to BallotReady profile data, and says he won election to that post in three consecutive citywide races in 2014, 2018 and 2022, serving ten years in the role, according to his Ballotpedia profile.
He also served on the Huntington Beach City Council, according to BallotReady. Gates says he was a partner at an Orange County law firm, according to his Ballotpedia profile. He says he is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, according to his statement in the California Official Voter Information Guide.
Gates is listed as deputy assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, a position he has held since 2025, according to BallotReady.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Gates' candidate statements and his campaign website.
Criminal justice and public safety: Gates says he would fully enforce Proposition 36 statewide to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses and prosecute traffickers. He says he would enforce laws against open drug use and encampments, prioritize prosecution of violent and repeat offenders, and partner with local prosecutors and law enforcement. Gates says he would defend law enforcement officers who are sued for doing their jobs.
Housing and local control: Gates says he would defend the constitutional authority of cities and counties to control zoning, land use and housing decisions. He says he would also defend local authority over land-use decisions that reflect environmental conditions and community priorities.
Environment: Gates says he would protect sensitive coastal zones, wildlife habitats, water supplies and high fire-risk areas from what he calls reckless or unlawful development. He says he would enforce environmental laws where high-density development threatens those areas.
Government reform and fiscal accountability: Gates says he would partner with federal and local law enforcement to dismantle fraud schemes, demand full transparency through public reporting and independent audits, and hold public officials and private contractors accountable for misusing funds. He says he would protect lawful ballot access while preventing fraud and administrative failures.
Guns and Second Amendment: Gates says he would defend the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Californians and focus enforcement on violent criminals, gangs and repeat offenders rather than responsible gun owners. He has been endorsed by the California Rifle and Pistol Association.
Endorsements
The following endorsements are reported by CalMatters and BallotReady profile data:
- Alameda County GOP
- Bay Area GOP
- California Congress of Republicans
- California GOP
- California Parents Union
- California Republican Assembly
- California Rifle and Pistol Association
- Los Angeles County GOP
- Monterey County GOP
- San Bernardino County GOP
- San Francisco GOP
- Santa Clara County GOP
- Silicon Valley Association of Conservative Republicans
Candidate positions in this profile are based on statements Gates provided to the California Official Voter Information Guide, Ballotpedia and BallotReady.
