Attorney General of California · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the California attorney general race?
Rob Bonta has the strongest record in the California attorney general race. Rob Bonta scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Gates at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Rob Bonta's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Michael Gates's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Rob Bonta
61 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
Republican
Michael Gates
On the ballot as Michael E. Gates
56 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Rob Bonta
- Mark against2024-09
The FPPC fined him $200 (Tier One) for failing to timely file four behested payment reports as an Assemblymember; three counts carried no penalty.
- Unresolved2025-01 to 2026-02
Exxon Mobil sued him for defamation over his criticism of its plastics recycling claims, after his office sued Exxon in 2024; in February 2026 a federal judge let the claims against him proceed.
Where it stands: Pending in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas; in February 2026 the judge denied his immunity-based bid to dismiss and left good faith as a question of fact.
Sources: Reuters via Insurance Journal, Feb. 18, 2026, E&E News (Politico), Feb. 25, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Reached a settlement letting Paramount Skydance's Warner Bros. Discovery merger proceed, drawing criticism from labor leaders and some Democrats.
- On the record2025 to 2026
Filed or joined more than 50 lawsuits against the second Trump administration.
- On the record2024 to 2025
His campaign paid about $468,000 to a law firm while federal investigators questioned him in the Oakland bribery probe; he was not charged and returned $155,100 in Duong family donations.
Sources: KQED, NBC Bay Area
- On the record2022-06
His department exposed personal data of about 192,000 concealed carry permit applicants; a review it commissioned blamed internal deficiencies, and he called it a breach of trust and apologized.
Source: Associated Press via KTVU
- Credit2019-10-11
Governor Newsom signed his AB 32, phasing out private for-profit prisons and immigration detention facilities in California.
Michael Gates
- Mark against2026-05
The FPPC fined him $600 (Tier Two) for failing to timely report a gift, free 2022 Pacific Airshow tickets, on his 2023 economic interest statement; he called the fine ridiculous.
Sources: FPPC enforcement decisions, May 2026, Voice of OC, May 2026
- On the record2026-02-23
The U.S. Supreme Court declined Huntington Beach's appeal in its housing fight with the state, leaving in place a ruling that the city violated state housing law.
Source: KFI AM 640, Feb. 24, 2026
- On the record2025-11-03
A state appeals court struck down Huntington Beach's voter ID measure, which he had defended, as conflicting with state election law.
Source: Associated Press via 10News
- On the record2025
Served 10 months as a deputy assistant U.S. attorney general in the Civil Rights Division, where he said he helped file eight voter-registration-file lawsuits, including against Orange County.
Source: LAist, Nov. 9, 2025
- On the record2025-11
Left the Justice Department in November 2025 after 10 months; the SF Chronicle reports a personnel form listed him terminated for cause and the department later rescinded it, accepting his voluntary resignation.
Sources: LAist, Nov. 2025, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 14, 2026
- On the record2024-05
As city attorney, said Huntington Beach would fight the State Auditor's legislatively ordered review of the airshow settlement, arguing the state lacked authority over a charter city.
Source: Voice of OC, May 2024
- On the record2023
Helped broker the city's settlement with the Pacific Airshow operator, which will cost Huntington Beach millions; its terms became public only after a public records lawsuit.
Sources: LAist, Nov. 9, 2025, Voice of OC, July 2024
- On the record2019 to 2022
Two former attorneys in his office sued him and the city for age discrimination in 2019; the city settled for $2.5 million in 2021, and a council-commissioned report found no evidence he broke the law.
Source: Daily Pilot (Los Angeles Times), Aug. 21, 2022, e-edition
- On the record2014 to 2025
As city attorney, sued the state over housing mandates, the sanctuary law and a school gender-identity notice law, and defended the city's voter ID measure.
Source: LAist, Nov. 9, 2025
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Rob Bonta. State Bar license active with no discipline. No ethics or conduct finding found. A $200 FPPC fine for late behested payment reports is scored under Management; his campaign's $468,000 legal bill is in the Record.
Source: State Bar of California, Robert Andres Bonta #202668
Michael Gates. State Bar license active with no discipline. No ethics or court conduct finding found. A $600 FPPC fine (2026) for an unreported gift on his 2023 economic interest statement is scored under Management.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Rob Bonta. In September 2026 settled with Paramount Skydance to let its Warner Bros. Discovery merger proceed, drawing criticism from labor leaders and Democrats who had cheered his opposition.
Michael Gates. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Rob Bonta. Gave on-the-record interviews on the race (Mercury News, KQED). No 2026 general election debate found.
Source: The Mercury News via Napa Valley Register, May 11, 2026
Michael Gates. Gave interviews on the race to LAist's AirTalk and the Mercury News. No 2026 general election debate found.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026, The Mercury News via Napa Valley Register, May 11, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Rob Bonta. Assemblymember 2012 to 2021 and attorney general since 2021. No formal censure or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Rob Bonta
Michael Gates. Elected Huntington Beach city attorney (2014 to 2025) and a deputy assistant U.S. attorney general in 2025. No formal censure or conduct finding found.
Source: LAist, Nov. 9, 2025
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Rob Bonta. Sworn as Assemblymember and attorney general. No misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Michael Gates. Sworn as an elected city attorney and as a federal official. No misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: LAist, Nov. 9, 2025
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Rob Bonta. Attorney general since 2021 (elected 2022) after nine years in the Assembly.
Source: Ballotpedia, Rob Bonta
Michael Gates. Ten years as elected Huntington Beach city attorney and city prosecutor, a 2025 senior Justice Department post, and earlier private trial practice.
Sources: LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026, LAist, Nov. 9, 2025
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Rob Bonta. Incumbent; chaired the Assembly Health and Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security committees. Lists specific enforcement priorities (housing, antitrust, retail theft, fentanyl).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Rob Bonta, The Mercury News via Napa Valley Register, May 11, 2026
Michael Gates. Published priorities in general terms: prosecute violent crime, fentanyl trafficking and retail theft, and fully enforce Proposition 36.
Sources: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, 2026, California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Rob Bonta. Completed the GrowSF questionnaire and gives interviews. Filed no state voter guide statement and did not complete the 2026 Ballotpedia survey.
Sources: GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026, California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide, Ballotpedia, Rob Bonta
Michael Gates. Completed the 2026 Ballotpedia survey, filed a state voter guide statement and gave a long-form AirTalk interview. Did not answer the GrowSF questionnaire.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Gates (California), California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide, GrowSF questionnaire, June 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Rob Bonta. Represented Oakland and Alameda in the Assembly for nine years after local office in Alameda. In-state donor share not available.
Sources: KQED, The Mercury News via Napa Valley Register, May 11, 2026
Michael Gates. Lifelong Californian and Huntington Beach resident who served the city as its elected attorney for a decade. In-state donor share not available.
Sources: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, 2026, State Bar of California, Michael E Gates #258446
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Rob Bonta. Heads the state Justice Department (2026 budget $1.33 billion). A department-commissioned review found its 2022 gun permit data exposure stemmed from internal deficiencies. FPPC fined him $200 in 2024 for late behested payment reports.
Sources: Ballotpedia, California Attorney General, Associated Press via KTVU, FPPC enforcement decisions, September 2024
Michael Gates. Ran the Huntington Beach city attorney's office for a decade. The FPPC fined him $600 in May 2026 for not timely reporting a gift (airshow tickets) on his 2023 economic interest statement; he disputed it.
Sources: FPPC enforcement decisions, May 2026, Voice of OC, May 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Rob Bonta. Authored AB 32 (2019), signed into law, phasing out private for-profit prisons and detention facilities. As AG enforced state housing laws against cities including Huntington Beach, whose appeals failed.
Sources: Office of the Governor, Oct. 11, 2019, LAist (CalMatters voter guide), Oct. 2026
Michael Gates. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Rob Bonta. No public record found.
Michael Gates. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Rob Bonta. No public record found.
Michael Gates. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Rob Bonta. No public record found.
Michael Gates. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Rob Bonta. No public record found.
Michael Gates. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the California attorney general race?
Rob Bonta has the strongest record in the California attorney general race. Rob Bonta scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Gates at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Rob Bonta's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Michael Gates's highest marks are relevant experience and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the California attorney general race in 2026?
Rob Bonta (Democratic, incumbent), Michael Gates (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Rob Bonta a good candidate for Attorney General?
Rob Bonta scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Michael Gates a good candidate for Attorney General?
Michael Gates scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every California race scored, and the California 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.