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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s former Controller Betty Yee announced Wednesday she will run for governor in 2026, vying to succeed outgoing Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who is Black, and outgoing state Senate leader Toni Atkins, a lesbian lawmaker, have all announced their candidacies. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesYee served as the budget director for Democratic Gov. She was then elected as a member of the California State Board of Equalization and then as state controller. California controller is responsible for disbursing state funds, auditing government agencies and serving on more than 70 boards and commissions.

Persons: —, Betty Yee, Gavin Newsom, Yee, ” Yee, Newsom, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, Tony Thurmond, Toni Atkins, Rob Bonta, Gray Davis Organizations: Democratic, California Democratic Party, Democratic Gov, California State, of Equalization Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, San Francisco, Sacramento, California

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.

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, “

That includes a brief stint as mayor of San Diego, one of the nation’s largest cities. During her tenure as Senate leader, Democrats have grown their caucus to 32 out of 40 seats — their largest majority since 1883. She got her chance when her twin sister joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego. In San Diego, Atkins was director of a women’s health clinic that performed abortions. She was also politically active, working to help elect Christine Kehoe to the San Diego City Council.

Persons: Toni Atkins, Tony Gwynn, Jimmy Kimmel’s, Atkins, Jerry Brown, “, Gavin Newsom, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Rob Bonta, ”, Shannon Grove, Newsom, Dolly Parton, ” Atkins, Christine Kehoe, Kehoe, “ Toni, ” Kehoe, Anthony Rendon, Rendon, “ Toni Atkins Organizations: San Diego Padres, Gov, Associated Press, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, Republican, Navy, San Diego City Council, Affordable Care Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Oregon, Black, San Diego, Virginia, Appalachia, Los Angeles

If elected, Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction, would be the first Black person to become California's governor. California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and former state Controller Betty Yee, both Democrats, also announced their 2026 bids for governor. Democratic State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who previously said she would run for governor, announced earlier this year that she is running for lieutenant governor. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Chino Valley district over the policy, saying it discriminated against students. The school board later reversed course.

Persons: —, Tony Thurmond, Thurmond, ”, Eleni Kounalakis, Betty Yee, Fiona Ma, Gavin Newsom, Rob Bonta, Newsom, Harvey Milk Organizations: Tuesday, Democratic, Democratic California Gov, West Contra Costa School Board, Richmond City Council, Politico Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, “ California, California, Richmond, Philadelphia, Southern California, Chino Valley, San Francisco

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