The California gubernatorial race just got a whole lot more dramatic, and we’re here for all the political tea. 🍵

Democrat Toni Atkins, the former Senate president, just announced her dramatic exit from the 2026 governor’s race, leaving Bay Area politicos shook. In a brutally honest email to supporters, she admitted what everyone was thinking: her campaign just wasn’t catching fire.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

With polling numbers barely scraping the single digits, Atkins faced the harsh reality that her path to Sacramento’s top seat was looking more like a dead-end street. An August Politico poll revealed she was trailing behind heavy hitters like Katie Porter, who was cruising at 21% voter support.

A Historic Missed Opportunity

Atkins would have made history as California’s first openly LGBTQ governor, adding another layer of potential groundbreaking representation to an already diverse candidate field. Her campaign championed progressive causes like universal healthcare and increased housing construction, but sometimes passion isn’t enough to win a statewide race.

What’s Next?

With Atkins stepping back, the Democratic primary is now a star-studded lineup including Katie Porter, Xavier Becerra, and Antonio Villaraigosa. The race is wide open, and political junkies are here for the drama.

Remember, in California politics, today’s dropout could be tomorrow’s cabinet member. Stay tuned, Bay Area.