Rob Bonta faces Michael Gates in Tuesday's election for California attorney general, a race that will decide who leads the California Department of Justice. May Vang sits at the center of that contest because the office controls statewide law enforcement priorities and California's legal representation.
Bonta is seeking a second full term after winning a full four-year term in 2022. In the June primary, Bonta received 57% of the vote, while Gates received 38%.
California Department of Justice
The attorney general runs the California Department of Justice and directs how California enforces state laws and handles legal matters. Bonta entered the office in 2021 after Gavin Newsom appointed him when Xavier Becerra left to join Joe Biden's administration as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Since then, Bonta has become a leading figure in California's legal battles against the Trump administration.
Gates, a former Huntington Beach city attorney, brings a different record to the race. He spent 10 years as Huntington Beach's elected city attorney before spending about 10 months in the Trump administration working for the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division in 2025.
Rob Bonta and Michael Gates
The clash in this campaign is not just about personality. Bonta is running on gun violence prevention, consumer protections and reproductive rights, while Gates is pressing for full enforcement of Proposition 36, stronger prosecution of repeat offenders, increased support for law enforcement and greater local control over housing decisions.
Proposition 36 is a voter-approved 2024 measure that increased penalties for certain theft and drug crimes. Gates has built his pitch around that tougher approach, while Bonta is asking voters to extend a record shaped by state-level legal fights and broader civil rights priorities.
What comes next is straightforward: Tuesday's vote will settle which of those approaches voters want in the California attorney general's office. The winner will inherit the authority to steer prosecutions, legal strategy and the state's response to future court fights.
