Michael Gates, the former Huntington Beach city attorney, has officially entered the 2026 race for California Attorney General, setting up a high-stakes battle with Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta. Gates, a Republican, is running on a law-and-order platform and is promising to return integrity and local control to a state he says has been mismanaged by progressive leadership.
Speaking before a crowd at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach, Gates cast his campaign as a fight against what he described as “a broken Sacramento.” Throughout his time in public service, Gates has been known for defending local autonomy and pushing back on state overreach—positions that have gained him significant conservative support throughout California.
During his tenure as city attorney, Gates repeatedly challenged Sacramento on issues like forced housing mandates and liberal voting policies. He also confronted the state on its sanctuary city laws, arguing for stronger enforcement of immigration rules and prioritizing community safety. His hardline stance often drew the ire of progressive politicians but won praise from constituents seeking accountability.
After stepping down from his city post, Gates served briefly in the U.S. Department of Justice as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division. That national experience, combined with a decade of local governance, now shapes his pitch to voters as a principled and proven conservative alternative to Bonta.
Gates’s platform centers on three main issues: fighting crime, restoring election confidence, and empowering local governments. His message is clear—California needs an attorney general who enforces the law, not one who plays politics with public safety.
In contrast, Rob Bonta has used the attorney general’s office as a vehicle for furthering progressive agendas, from championing leniency in criminal justice to suing cities that push back against state housing requirements. While Bonta claims to be protecting civil rights, critics argue he’s ignored basic public safety and overstepped his authority to impose Sacramento’s will on local communities.
Gates’s announcement also featured appearances by other Republican candidates, signaling a more coordinated statewide effort from California’s conservative movement. Though California remains a Democrat-dominated state, Republicans like Gates see growing frustration among voters fed up with rising crime, homelessness, and a lack of accountability in state government.
The 2026 election is expected to be a referendum not just on Bonta, but on the broader policies of California’s progressive leadership.
