San Diego politician and state legislative leader Toni Atkins has dropped out of the 2026 race to succeed outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom, she announced Sept. 29.
The former state Senate leader, a Democrat, was making a run to become the state’s first woman and first lesbian to be elected governor.
“California, though my campaign for governor is coming to an end, the fight continues,” Atkins, 63, posted on Facebook, along with a letter to her supporters.
In her message, she highlighted her accomplishments in public service and her personal history in the state.
“Growing up in rural Virginia, I was often reminded that I didn’t fit in—too country, too poor, too gay. But when I came to this state, I found something different: opportunity and acceptance.”…