California Legal professional Common Rob Bonta has been busy recently, or so it might appear from the unending stream of press releases from the Division of Justice.
If he’s not saying profitable prosecution for possession of kid pornography (April 11) or commenting on a U.S. Supreme Courtroom choice (April 12), Bonta’s staging a information convention to announce a lawsuit in opposition to the town of Huntington Seashore for imposing its personal voting necessities (April 14), releasing remaining rules of one-line charities (April 16), or declaring final result of investigation into an officer-involved taking pictures (April 17).
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Bonta to his place three years in the past, succeeding Xavier Becerra, who grew to become U.S. secretary of well being and welfare.
Have been Bonta merely looking for a full time period as legal professional basic in 2026, he wouldn’t want a lot publicity-seeking exercise. It might be a political cakewalk.
Nonetheless, if he’s setting the stage to run for governor two years therefore, he could be doing precisely what he’s doing: maximizing his official actions to construct his picture as an efficient officeholder.
Bonta hasn’t mentioned he’s working for governor, however whereas occupying what’s arguably the state’s second strongest workplace, he needn’t accomplish that but. Attorneys basic are mechanically listed as potential candidates for governor.
In latest historical past, governors Pat Brown, George Deukmejian and Jerry Brown all had been AGs and three others made bids, Evelle Youthful (1978), John Van de Kamp (1990) and Dan Lungren (1998).
Whereas Bonta may very well be, and possibly is, working a shadow marketing campaign below the guise of official duties, his would-be opponents don’t have that luxurious.
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis is working, and a few latest governors used her workplace as a launch pad – Grey Davis in 1998 and Newsom in 2018. However they had been, in a way, flukes as a result of lieutenant governors have just about no official duties and draw nearly no media consideration.
As mayor of San Francisco, Newsom needed to run for governor in 2010, however was shouldered apart by Jerry Brown. With apparent reluctance, as a substitute Newsom ran for lieutenant governor after deriding the workplace as having “no actual authority and no actual portfolio.”
Regardless of the obscurity of her workplace Kounalakis does have two potential benefits – her expertise as ambassador to Hungary and really substantial household wealth – that would assist her achieve one of many two runoff spots within the 2026 open main. Her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, is a rich land developer in Sacramento who can also be a serious Democratic marketing campaign contributor.
One different statewide officer, state faculties Superintendent Tony Thurmond, can also be within the combine and has been making quite a few public appearances in that function to spice up his picture. Toni Atkins, former president professional tem of the state Senate, and former Controller Betty Yee have additionally declared their candidacies.
There could also be extra coming. Latinos are California’s largest ethnic bloc, however to date no candidate is Latino. It might be gorgeous if the 2026 election didn’t have not less than one Latino candidate. Becerra, Bonta’s predecessor as legal professional basic, is believed to be weighing a run.
So what in regards to the Republicans? The GOP bench is skinny to the purpose of transparency. Whereas it could be unattainable for the get together to win, the presence of a Republican candidate – regardless of how weak – may change the dynamics of getting a big discipline of Democrats working in a top-two main system.
That’s precisely what occurred within the March main for U.S. Senate. The late entry of Republican Steve Garvey, a former baseball star, blocked what may have been a Democrat vs. Democrat run-off by ending second, thanks partially to being not directly aided by the Democratic frontrunner, Rep. Adam Schiff.
Dan Walters is a CalMatters columnist.
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