California Attorney General Race to Conclude in November
California voters will decide between incumbent Rob Bonta and challenger Michael Gates this November.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you support requiring government-issued photo identification for in-person voting?
California Attorney General Rob Bonta faces challenger Michael Gates in the upcoming November 2026 general election. The two candidates advance through the state's top-two open primary system to determine the state's top legal official.
Why it matters
The race highlights divergent visions for the state, with Bonta emphasizing his record of litigation against the federal government and Gates focusing on law-and-order and voter identification initiatives.
Rob Bonta secured 56.6% of the vote in the June primary, outpacing Michael Gates by an 18-point margin. Meanwhile, polling indicates 55% opposition to Proposition 39, which seeks to mandate government-issued identification for in-person voting.
The players
Rob Bonta
Rob Bonta is the incumbent California Attorney General who previously served in the California State Assembly.
Michael Gates
Michael Gates is the challenger for the attorney general seat and a former city attorney for Huntington Beach.
The details
The election follows a June primary where both candidates qualified under the state's top-two open primary system enacted in 2011. Bonta has utilized his office to file over 80 lawsuits against the Trump administration since 2025, while Gates has campaigned on new restrictions for mail-in ballot validation.
Timeline
California enacted a top-two open primary system in 2011.
Michael Gates officially joined the attorney general race in January 2026.
Rob Bonta and Michael Gates competed in the primary in June 2026.
Campaigns reported their cash-on-hand totals on September 19, 2026.
The general election for attorney general occurs in November 2026.
Political Context
Opposition to this election includes Republican groups advocating for stricter voter ID requirements via Proposition 39. These dissenting voices argue that the state's current ballot validation protocols lack sufficient security measures compared to other jurisdictions.
The outcome will determine the legal strategy used by the state against federal policies and impact whether California implements stricter voter identification requirements. Voters must assess how these potential regulatory changes might affect their ability to cast ballots in future cycles.
The takeaway
Voters should review the specific language of Proposition 39 to understand how it would alter current mail-in and in-person voting procedures. The results of this race will significantly influence the state's legal priorities regarding federal funding and election security over the next term.
Further reading
For more background on state contests, visit California Elections.
Live Poll
Do you support requiring government-issued photo identification for in-person voting?
