Rob Bonta, the Democratic incumbent, is running for reelection as California attorney general in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican Michael E. Gates.

Bonta was sworn in on April 23, 2021, as the state's 34th attorney general and the first person of Filipino descent to hold the office, according to the California Department of Justice.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Born: Sept. 22, 1971, in Quezon City, Philippines; immigrated to California as an infant
  • Education: Bachelor's in history, Yale University (1993); politics, philosophy and economics, University of Oxford; juris doctor, Yale University (1998)

Experience and public service

Bonta clerked for Judge Alvin W. Thompson at the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut from 1998 to 1999, according to Wikipedia. He was a litigation associate at Keker & Van Nest from 1999 to 2003.

He served as a deputy city attorney for the County of San Francisco from 2003 to 2012, according to BallotReady. He also directed the Alameda Health Care District/Alameda Hospital from 2007 to 2010 and served on the Alameda City Council from 2010 to 2012.

Bonta was the first Filipino American in the California State Legislature, representing Assembly District 18 from 2012 to 2021.

On the issues

The following positions are stated by Bonta's campaign through BallotReady questionnaire responses and his campaign website.

Criminal justice and public safety: Bonta said he wants to "infuse more safety and fairness into our justice system" and is advancing solutions to make communities safer.

Gun safety: Bonta said he is defending California's assault weapons ban from legal challenges, co-authored legislation on high-capacity ammunition magazines, and is fighting for funding for more police officers and stronger local gun laws.

Healthcare: Bonta said he is defending Obamacare and California's health care expansions from legal challenges, went to court over denied mental health benefits, is seeking justice for opioid victims' families and is defending reproductive health care access.

Workers' rights: Bonta said he has prioritized cases against employers who steal wages. He said he increased the minimum wage to the highest in the country.

Immigration: Bonta said he is fighting to ensure every Californian is treated with dignity regardless of immigration status.

Endorsements

The following endorsements were claimed by the endorsing organizations, according to BallotReady:

  • AFSCME
  • AFSCME Local 3299
  • Alameda County Democrats
  • Alice B Toklas Democratic Club
  • American Nurses Association of California
  • Asian American Action Fund PAC
  • Bay Area Reporter Editorial Board
  • Brady: United Against Gun Violence
  • California - Orange County Democrats
  • California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
  • California School Employees Association
  • California Teachers' Association
  • California Young Democrats
  • CHIRAL Action Fund
  • Communication Workers of America
  • Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood Orange San Bernardino Counties
  • Contra Costa County Democrats
  • East Bay Times Editorial Board
  • Fresno County Democrats
  • Fresno Stonewall Democrats
  • Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club
  • Heart of LA Democratic Club
  • Jane Fonda Climate PAC
  • Los Angeles County Democrats
  • Los Angeles Stonewall Democrats
  • Mercury News Editorial Board
  • North State Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
  • Pacific Palisades Democratic Club
  • Planned Parenthood of Orange, San Bernadino
  • Planned Parenthood of San Diego, Riverside, Imperial
  • Random Length News Editorial Board
  • Riverside County Democrats
  • Sacramento County Democrats
  • San Diego Building & Construction Trades Council
  • San Diego County Democratic Party
  • San Diego Democrats for Equality
  • San Francisco Bay Times Editorial Board
  • San Francisco Examiner Editorial Board
  • San Francisco Women's Political Committee
  • San Jose Mercury News Editorial Board
  • Santa Barbara Independent Editorial Board
  • Santa Clara County Democrats
  • South Bay Labor Council
  • State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
  • The United Democratic Club
  • United Farm Workers
  • YIMBY Action

Issue positions are drawn from the candidate's BallotReady questionnaire responses and campaign website. They reflect the candidate's own statements.