Political Notes: Lesbian CA Gov candidate Atkins battles perceptions her bid is a lost cause

For lesbian Democratic California gubernatorial candidate Toni Atkins, the end of July should have been a jubilant moment for her candidacy. A number of her former LGBTQ legislative colleagues endorsed her bid to be the first out and first female governor of the Golden State.

And Democratic former Vice President Kamala Harris ruled out making her own bid for the governor’s mansion in Sacramento. It brought to an end to speculation that Atkins would drop her campaign should the state’s former attorney general, who also once served as San Francisco district attorney, entered the race.

“The mission hasn’t changed. This is a campaign built to lead, built to win, and built to fight for every Californian, in every zip code. Our path to victory is clear, and I’m ready to lead on day one as Governor of California,” Atkins stated upon the news of Harris’ decision, saying of last year’s Democratic presidential nominee, “Vice President Harris has made her decision, and I thank her for her decades of service to our state and country.”

Yet Atkins, who celebrated her 63rd birthday Friday, found herself battling perceptions that her historic candidacy is a lost cause. A San Francisco Chronicle headline for an opinion piece https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/katie-porter-going-california-s-next-governor-20794517.php declared that Democratic former Southern California congressmember “Katie Porter is going to be California’s next governor.”

The July 31 Politico California Playbook email declared that “Porter’s in command” following Harris’ long-awaited decision about the 2026 contest to succeed termed out Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat widely seen as a likely 2028 presidential contender.

“No one is poised to benefit more than Porter, who shares an overlapping base of national benefactors and has performed better than all Democrats but Harris in public polling of the race,” noted Politico.

Porter’s camp was also quick to claim frontrunner status shortly after Harris revealed her decision July 30. In an email to supporters that evening, her campaign declared the news “leaves Katie Porter as the clear Democratic frontrunner in this ultra-competitive race.”

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis was basking in the glow of effusive praise from Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) after she told a CNN interviewer regarding next year’s contest to lead California, “We have many great candidates, one in particular, Eleni Tsakopoulos, whom I support,” using the maiden name of her Pacific Heights neighbor she has long known.

Her comment generated national headlines that it was a de facto endorsement of the state’s Democratic second-in-command. And it was seen as Pelosi opening the spigot of campaign contributions from the party’s donors for the one-time U.S. ambassador to Hungary.

It wasn’t just the California press downplaying Atkins’ campaign. In its coverage of Harris’ forgoing a gubernatorial bid, despite a headline touting the race is “wide open,” the New York Times featured only photos of Porter and former Democratic Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

It got around to mentioning Atkins, lumped in with some of the other better-known candidates in the race, in the article’s 18th paragraph. It did note in the next graph, after claiming Porter as “the best known” Democrat in the race, that Atkins would be the state’s “first openly gay governor” rather than using the term lesbian. She already has the distinction of being the first LGBTQ person to serve as acting governor and, in 2023, became the first woman and first openly LGBTQ person serving as acting governor to sign bills into law while doing so.

And Atkins woke up Friday to reports she had raised nearly $650,000 during the first six months of 2025, less than Porter and Villaraigosa disclosed they had hauled in for their bids. Nonetheless, Atkins is sitting on $4.2 million in her campaign coffers, putting her near the top in terms of cash banked at this point in the race.

Asked Thursday by the Bay Area Reporter about the headlines regarding the governor’s race and the mainstream media’s pegging Porter the one to beat, Atkins campaign spokesperson Danni Wang wrote in an emailed reply August 1 that it wasn’t focused on press coverage but earning the support of voters across the state.

"Toni Atkins has spent her life delivering for Californians - not chasing headlines, but driving real, lasting change,” wrote Wang. “She’s expanded access to housing and health care, protected reproductive freedom, and uplifted communities too often left behind. Voters connect with her story, her record, and her vision – and that’s why we’re confident they’ll choose her to be California’s next governor."

LGBTQ support
The campaign also shared exclusively with the B.A.R. that the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, comprised of the 14 out Democrats serving either in the state Assembly or Senate, had endorsed Atkins for governor. In a statement, caucus chair gay Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) stated the affinity group “is proud” to endorse Atkins, who during her tenure in the Legislature served as both speaker of the Assembly and as president pro tempore of the Senate, the first out legislator to do so in the upper chamber, as well as the first person to lead both chambers.

"Toni Atkins has worked nonstop to lift up others, shatter glass ceilings, and guide California through both triumph and challenge – delivering real support to improve lives,” stated Ward, who now represents the Assembly district that Atkins had in the 2010s. “As the first LGBTQ+ person to lead both houses of the Legislature, she’s opened doors for so many while advancing justice and equity for all. The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus is proud to endorse Toni Atkins for Governor because we need a leader who’s lived our struggles, earned our trust, and will fight with heart and conviction for our future.”

On a more personal note, having known Atkins for many years and following in her political footsteps in San Diego, Ward added, “I have seen Toni Atkins fight for all her constituents during challenging times as a city leader and twice as a state legislative leader. Her thoughtful and fair approach, combined with personal experience and unwavering values, has made the LGBTQ community proud of their support for her every step of the way.”

He noted that, “Atkins sees the big picture and commands a strong attention to the inner workings of state government, giving her a unique position to be highly effective at solving problems Californians are looking for in their next Governor.”

Atkins’ campaign also sent out a memo Friday titled “A Strong Path to Victory: Toni Atkins’ Momentum in Governors’ Race” to counteract any narrative that her bid is floundering or failing to catch on with the state’s electorate. It touted that her donor base is predominately made up of Californians, at 93%, “a clear sign of the grassroots power and in-state support her campaign has generated.”

In the memo sent to stakeholders in the race for governor to draw attention to her strength's as a candidate, Atkins’ campaign contended it has the financial resources and broad support in addition to a compelling life story of a candidate who emerged from poverty in Appalachia to become one of the most powerful women in California political history to mount a winning contest for the governorship.

“Toni Atkins’ race for governor is marked by unmatched momentum, a deep and diverse coalition of support, and a story that speaks directly to the lives of millions of Californians,” the memo proclaimed. “With Vice President Kamala Harris confirming she will not run for governor, the field is now wide open – and Toni Atkins has a strong path to victory.”

It also pointed to the slew of endorsements Atkins’ received this week from LGBTQ leaders, such as lesbian former state senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) and gay state Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) along with their lesbian colleague Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley).

"I know what it's like to overcome impossible odds, and Toni Atkins does too,” Menjivar stated. “Her life and career in public service are proof of that. Whether it's bringing down housing costs so families aren't priced out of their communities, making health care affordable for everyone, or ensuring working Californians can keep more of what they earn, Toni shows up and delivers. I have no doubt she'll bring that same passion and determination to fight for an affordable California where families can thrive as our next Governor. That's why I'm proud to give her my full support.”

Laird added that he has “witnessed firsthand her thoughtfulness, her deep grasp of complex policy, and her steady leadership when she led the State Senate. In the face of climate change, rising costs, and relentless attacks on vulnerable communities, Toni never wavered – she led with clarity, compassion, and resolve. California faces enormous challenges, and we need someone who’s not just ready to lead – but ready to lead on day one. That’s Toni."

As for Wiener, who invited Atkins to march with his contingent in this year’s San Francisco Pride parade, he stated of his former legislative colleague that he saw “firsthand” Atkins’ “exceptional leadership, her ability to bring people together, and her unwavering determination during some of California’s most challenging times. Toni has delivered real progress - from expanding access to housing and creating good jobs, to standing up for underserved communities. As Governor, I know she'll continue to lead with vision, compassion, and grit. I hope you’ll join me in supporting Toni Atkins for Governor."

Speaking to the B.A.R. August 1, Wiener said throughout her personal and political life Atkins has been underestimated and went on to persevere. He expects it will be no different with her gubernatorial bid.

“Every time she is underestimated, she prevails. She became speaker, she became pro tem. This is someone who grew up in poverty in rural Virginia. She has been underestimated her whole life,” said Wiener. “This is a strong and tough field of candidates, for everyone. It is early, and I know that Toni will be competitive and run a great race.”

Until Harris made her move this week, the gubernatorial race was largely in a state of stasis, said Wiener. Now, with endorsements and donations starting to flow to the declared contenders, Wiener said he expects even more momentum to build for Atkins’ candidacy.

“There are a lot of good, talented people running. This is not about negativity for any of the other candidates running. I am proud, as Democrats, we have such great candidates but do not count Toni Atkins out,” contended Wiener. “Keep in mind, because of the uncertainty about Kamala, this field has been sort of frozen. No one knew exactly what Kamala was going to do; now that Kamala stated what she said to me, now, is when the race starts.”

Atkins has a little more than 10 months to make her case to the state’s voters, as the first electoral hurdle she needs to clear is the June 2, 2026 primary. Under California’s open primary system, the top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation will advance to the November ballot to fight head-to-head for a four-year term that will begin in early 2027.

UPDATED 8/1/25 with additional comment from Senator Wiener.

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