Toni Atkins drops out of California governor's race, cites 'no viable path forward'

"My intention was to build on that progress, to bring real solutions from day one, and to do good work for the people. That's why it's with such a heavy heart that I'm stepping aside today as a candidate for governor. Despite the strong support we've received and all we've achieved, there is simply no viable path forward to victory."

"With Donald Trump and his allies threatening everything we've worked for - gutting health care, cratering our economy, and stripping away fundamental rights and freedoms - we've got to make sure California has a Democratic governor leading the fight, and that means uniting as Democrats."

Toni Atkins, an out lesbian Democrat and long-serving California legislator, ended her 2026 gubernatorial campaign to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom. Atkins said there was no viable path to victory despite receiving support and achievements from her campaign. She emphasized the need for Democratic unity to defend against threats she attributed to Donald Trump and his allies, including attacks on health care, the economy, and fundamental rights. An Emerson College poll showed Atkins with 2 percent support in the Democratic primary, trailing former Rep. Katie Porter and others. Atkins served in the Assembly from 2010, was Assembly speaker in 2014, joined the state Senate in 2016, and became senate president pro tempore in 2018.

Read at Advocate.com