Rob Bonta seeks reelection as California attorney general

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.

The attorney general leads the state Department of Justice and oversees law enforcement, consumer protection and civil rights enforcement. Bonta was sworn in on April 23, 2021, as the 34th attorney general, according to the California Department of Justice. He was the first person of Filipino descent to hold the office.

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

Deputy city attorney, County of San Francisco, 2003–2012
City council member, City of Alameda, 2010–2012
Assembly member, District 18, California State Assembly, 2012–2021
Attorney general, State of California, 2021–present

Bonta was the first Filipino American to serve in the California State Legislature, according to Wikipedia.

On the issues

The following positions come from Bonta's BallotReady questionnaire responses and his campaign website.

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

Healthcare: Bonta said he is defending the Affordable Care Act from legal challenges and went to court for Californians denied mental health benefits by insurers. He said he is seeking justice for opioid victims' families and defending reproductive healthcare laws.

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

Immigration: Bonta said he is fighting to ensure every Californian knows their rights regardless of immigration status.

Environment: Bonta said he is expanding the Department of Justice's capacity to prosecute polluters and working to keep California a leader against climate change.