South Bay voters will see Democrat Rob Bonta on their Nov. 3, 2026, ballots, seeking reelection as California attorney general against Republican Michael E. Gates.

The attorney general serves as the state's chief law enforcement officer and heads the Department of Justice. Bonta was sworn in on April 23, 2021, as the 34th person to hold the office, according to the California Department of Justice. He was the first person of Filipino descent to serve as California attorney general.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Office sought: California attorney general
  • Born: Sept. 22, 1971, in Quezon City, Philippines; immigrated to California with his family as an infant
  • Education: Bachelor's in history, Yale University (1993); politics, philosophy and economics, University of Oxford; J.D., 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. He was a litigation associate at Keker & Van Nest from 1999 to 2003, then a deputy city attorney for the County of San Francisco from 2003 to 2012, according to BallotReady.

He served as a director at the Alameda Health Care District/Alameda Hospital from 2007 to 2010 and on the Alameda City Council from 2010 to 2012. He 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 from Bonta's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire responses. They reflect the candidate's own claims.

Public safety and guns: Bonta said he is defending California's gun safety laws, including the assault weapons ban, from legal challenges. He said he co-authored legislation to strengthen regulations on high-capacity ammunition magazines.

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 defending reproductive health care access.

Workers and wages: 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 working to ensure all Californians know their rights regardless of immigration status.

Environment: Bonta said he is expanding the Department of Justice's capacity to prosecute polluters and seeking justice for communities harmed by pollution.

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

Candidate positions are based on BallotReady questionnaire data and the candidate's campaign website. They represent the candidate's own statements.