California, despite its progressive reputation, has never had a woman or an openly LGBTQ governor. Atkins has only ever been elected by voters in San Diego. She later worked at a women's health clinic that performed abortions before getting elected to the San Diego City Council. She had a brief stint as mayor before getting elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and the state Senate in 2016. Newsom has steadfastly refused sweeping tax increases to balance the budget — something Atkins, too, said she would try to stay away from if she were elected governor.

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Persons: Toni Atkins, Atkins, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, Rob Bonta, Gavin Newsom, Thurmond, Yee, ” Atkins, “ I’m, Jerry Brown, Newsom, “, ” Organizations: Democrat, Capitol, San Diego City Council, Gov Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, San Diego, Virginia, “