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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

Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesMcGuire will succeed state Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, a San Diego Democrat who recently announced her bid for governor in 2026. Chris Lopez, who chairs the policy group Rural County Representatives of California, is proud to see lawmakers from rural areas lead both chambers of the Legislature. Policy advocates and fellow lawmakers described McGuire as an honest, hard-working leader who is willing to listen to a variety of opinions. Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, a Republican representing part of San Diego County, said he has a good working relationship with McGuire. “I’m making sure that millions of California voices are being heard, and Mike McGuire is very respectful of that,” Jones said.

Persons: California Sen, Mike McGuire, McGuire, ” McGuire, Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Gavin Newsom, Sen, Steven Bradford, Robert Rivas, Rivas, farmworkers, ” Rivas, Chris Lopez, ” Lopez, Alex Vassar, “, ”, Brian Jones, ” Jones, ” Kristina Bas Hamilton, doesn’t, Anthony Rendon, Atkins, patted, David Rabbitt, ” Rabbitt, ” ___ Austin, @sophieadanna Organizations: Associated Press, Pro Tempore, San Diego Democrat, Democratic Gov, California State Association of, San, Rural, California State Library, of Supervisors, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Eureka, Los Angeles, Healdsburg, Democrat’s, Oregon, California’s, Sonoma County, San Benito County, Rural County, McGuire's, San Diego County, Sacramento

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

The vote capped a legislative session in California that once again showed the strength of organized labor in the nation's most populous state. They could get unemployment benefits starting in January, which could benefit actors, writers and Southern California hotel workers who have been on strike for months. Organized labor's influence is easily explained by their prolific campaign donations, as they are some of the most reliable source of funds for the Democrats who control the state Legislature. In the spring, lawmakers agreed to Newsom's request to authorize state regulators to punish oil companies for price gouging. But California lawmakers passed bills this year to expand protections for young LGBTQ+ people.

Persons: Robert Rivas, ”, Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, “, Gavin Newsom’s, that's, He's, Newsom, Sen, Shannon, " Rivas, Newsom hasn't, ___ Sophie Austin, Austin @sophieadanna Organizations: California Hospital Association, Lawmakers, Democratic, Pro Tempore, Democrat, Democratic Gov, Republicans, Democrats, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Southern California, San Diego, Mexico, Shannon Grove, Hollister

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California may soon lift a ban on state-funded travel to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws and instead focus on an advertising campaign to bring anti-discrimination messages to red states. California started banning official travel to states with laws it deemed discriminatory against LGBTQ+ people in 2017, starting with Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee. Since then, the list has grown to include a total of 26 states, most of them Republican-led, following a surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation these past few years. California lawmakers in the state Assembly on Monday passed legislation to end the travel ban. Atkins, who is a lesbian, said the travel ban has helped raise awareness about many anti-LGBTQ+ issues, but it has also led to unintended consequences.

Persons: Toni Atkins, Atkins, ”, Rick Zbur, Gavin Newsom’s, Newsom, Eric Montoya Reyes, Sophie Austin, Austin, Austin @sophieadanna Organizations: Republican, Democratic, “, Senate, Gov, Comunidad, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Kansas , Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona, Utah, Mexico, Southern California

As millions of Americans prepare to submit applications for student loan forgiveness through the Biden administration's new program, the residents of seven states could get a tax bill if they accept the loan cancellation. California is the largest state currently in line to tax student loan forgiveness. However, California legislators have promised to change the state's tax code to exempt student debt forgiveness from being taxed. In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Revenue confirmed its residents will owe up to $323 for $10,000 in student loan forgiveness and $646 for $20,000 in student loan forgiveness. “Legislative leaders need to find a solution that treats student loan forgiveness the same way they handled the PPP loan forgiveness that many of them received,” Cooper said.

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