It’s anybody’s race for California governor, but here in San Diego, many of the top politicos in the state’s second biggest city already have their candidate — former state Sen. Toni Atkins.
Atkins held her first show of force in the race on Saturday since former Vice President Kamala Harris’ announcement to not join the race, with supporters packing into a new campaign headquarters in Mission Hills near the airport. Those in attendance were a who’s-who of local politics, from Mayor Todd Gloria to Supervisor Paloma Aguirre and Sheriff Kelly Martinez.
“As we plant our roots even deeper here in San Diego, a place that made me who I am, I’m thrilled to share what’s next for this campaign,” Atkins told the crowd of supporters. “It’s not just a campaign headquarters, it’s the heartbeat of a movement.”
In recent weeks, two major shakeups have hit the already crowded contest for the state’s top job.
Last month, Harris declined to enter the race, removing a blockbuster contender whose massive name recognition was far stronger than any rivals.
And just on Friday, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis withdrew from the race, thinning the field even more. Kounalakis has said she now plans to run for state treasurer.
Those developments have set up a wide open field of Democrats jockeying for an edge in the lead-up to a primary next June.
“I believe experience matters,” Atkins said in an interview, noting her time as state Assembly speaker and president pro tempore of the state Senate.
“I’ve represented this area for almost 30 years in one way or another,” she said. “The relationships are deep, and so I intend to make this the base.”
An elected official for decades, Atkins has fortified support for her bid in the San Diego area and is now looking to expand it throughout California in the months ahead. To raise her profile and meet voters elsewhere in the state, Atkins will embark on a statewide tour later this month, trekking from Red Bluff in Northern California down to Riverside.
“This isn’t just the most qualified person this time,” U.S. Rep. Scott Peters said of Atkins. “This is the most qualified person in a long time.”
The crux of Atkins’ bid, Peters noted, was how to raise the profile of someone who’s already been at the top of state government for so long.
“The challenge is she’s been pretty quiet,” he said of Atkin’s time in politics. “All we have to do is get that word out.”
Flanked by local political, tribal, and union leaders, California gubernatorial candidate Toni Atkins (D), delivers remarks during the official opening of her campaign headquarters in Middletown, Saturday Aug. 9, 2025. (Howard Lipin / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Where’s the polling and money?
Polling this early in the race has been scattershot. But with Harris officially out, where the field stands has come into sharper focus.
Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter has seen the biggest bump since Harris backed away from the governor’s race, with support at 18% this month compared to 12% in April, according to a recent poll from Emerson College. But Porter has been dealt a loss recently at the state level, coming in third in last year’s U.S. Senate race.
At Saturday’s event, Peters worked in an overt dig at his former colleague in the state congressional delegation, who’s known for displaying whiteboards during committee hearings to illustrate her points.
“People can be very eloquent with their whiteboards,” Peters said. “People can make a show on TV. But this is a job interview, okay?”
Even so, Emerson’s poll shows a high percentage of voters remain on the sidelines, with 38% undecided and 5% listing someone else as their preference.
Other Democrats involved in the race are polling in the single digits, including former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, billionaire Rick Caruso and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Atkins is among them, with about 2% support, according to the poll.
For the Republicans, Fox News host Steve Hilton stands at 12% compared to 7% support for Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
On the fundraising front, Atkins has the most cash on hand of all the Democrats currently running.
According to campaign finance disclosures, Atkins has $4.3 million in her campaign coffers. Villaraigosa has the second most with $3.4 million, while Porter has $2 million and Becerra has $2.1 million, according to disclosures.
Originally Published: August 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM PDT