The day before Senator Pro Tem Toni Atkins (Democrat of San Diego) has become the third serious Democratic candidate to begin a gubernatorial race in 2026, I said in an interview. Governor Gavin Newsom And then I brought up the idea of ​​whether I was going to support it in the race.

He complained about having served “only five years”.

“Ask me in 2025 or so. Barely, barely…” he said, then walked away.

Newsom is right in thinking talk of a successor is a little premature. There are still three years left in his term before the next governor takes office.

And it would be hypocritical if he felt sensitive about racism invading his second term.

Newsom waited three full months after the former. governor jerry brown He announced his candidacy as his successor in 2019 and was elected to his second term.

Newsom hasn't been shy about admitting he feels pressure to make the most of the time he has left. He referred to himself as a future “former governor” during a budget press conference earlier this month. As the 2026 gubernatorial race gets underway, candidates are already talking about how they might run the gubernatorial race in a similar or different way to Newsom.

“As a business owner, I truly believe that it's about setting the agenda, but I also think it's about being incredibly focused on a small number of issues,” Atkins told the Times before the announcement. said in an interview.

Atkins did not mention Newsom, nor did he need to. The governor has faced criticism in his first years in office for his work on a wide range of issues.

When asked to define the issues he feels are most important, Atkins lists housing, homelessness, climate change, water resources, transportation, job creation, expanding educational opportunities, public safety, and crime to name a few. It turned out that narrowing it down was more difficult than I thought. .

I'm Taryn Luna. He is the reporter who covers Newsom for the Times, and this week he is filling in for Sacramento bureau chief Laurel Rosenhall. Here's this week's biggest news in California politics.

Senate elections come alive

Three Congressional Democrats and a former Dodger-turned-Republican candidate clashed over the Gaza war and homelessness Monday night during a debate among candidates for the 2024 California Senate race. He called for a plan to address the issue and protect reproductive freedom.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, katie porter Irvine and barbara lee Oakland residents and Times columnists showed no love. steve garveynewcomer to politics and former supporter president trumptook shots with each other in person for the first time since their respective campaigns began.

The debate, held at USC and hosted by Fox 11 News and Politico, was one of three scheduled before the March 5 primary in which California voters will decide which two candidates will face off in November. It was one of the debates.

my colleague ben oreskes and Laura J. Nelson Times columnist offers five lessons from the crash Mark Z. Balabak and robin abcarian Explain why they are not very impressed with Garvey.

The whiplash Garvey received from Democrats in the debates may actually help the former baseball player garner support from Republican voters, the Times columnist said. George Skelton Pointed out.

Harris visits California, Newsom withdraws

vice president kamala harris is ping-ponging up and down the Golden State this week to raise money for President Biden's reelection campaign.

A welcoming committee including the Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass He greeted the vice president at Los Angeles International Airport in the afternoon before heading to Manhattan Beach for a campaign fundraiser on Wednesday. She highlighted the high stakes of the 2024 presidential election at an event hosted by her lawyer, telling a crowd of about 200 that President Trump's “intent is to be a dictator.” moe's kaba and Bjorn Lundberg.

She is in Sacramento on Thursday to speak to state lawmakers at a reception for the Democratic caucus. Afterwards, she will attend a reception for the Biden campaign with Lieutenant Governor Biden. Eleni KonarakisHe was running for governor and was listed as a “special guest” on the invitation before returning to Los Angeles. Ticket prices range from $5,000 to $50,000.

The vice president is scheduled to head to Las Vegas on Saturday to speak at an event with members of Congress. stephen horsford (D-Nev.) and attend another campaign event.

Meanwhile, Newsom will leave the state for South Carolina on Tuesday and will appear in Beaufort, Orangeburg and Sumter counties on Wednesday with the South Carolina Democratic Party as a member of the Biden-Harris 2024 National Advisory Council. He plans to participate in a series of campaign events.

The Democratic governor is also scheduled to attend an event at Morris University in Sumter, South Carolina, on Thursday morning.Newsom is scheduled to participate in a get-out-the-vote event with former presidents in Las Vegas on Friday. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak before returning to California.

Keep up with California politics

Williamson's California roots
presidential long shot Marianne Williamsonthe longtime California resident once known as Oprah Winfrey's “spiritual guru” is testing her ability to win votes in New Hampshire.

It's over: Trump wins first Republican primary
playing cards won The first Republican primary against the former South Carolina governor was held in New Hampshire on Tuesday. nikki haleyall but securing his party's nomination and setting up an expected rematch with President Biden.

Supreme Court rules for Biden administration in Texas border dispute
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Monday in favor of the Biden administration, allowing the U.S. Border Patrol to remove barbed wire installed by Texas authorities that prevents federal agents from monitoring areas along the Rio Grande. It was announced that there is.

California congressman tries to get New Hampshire voters to write Biden
This year, the Democratic National Committee pushed aside New Hampshire and endorsed South Carolina, which put Biden on the path to the nomination four years ago. But the congressman. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) and other Biden supporters had hoped that the write-in votes would help the president secure a favorable result in the state's unofficial Democratic primary.

Ron DeSantis ends presidential campaign and supports Trump
governor of florida Ron DeSantis on Sunday suspended its race for the Republican presidential nomination, endorsing former President Trump and saying it's clear “the vast majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance.” Ta. When DeSantis debated him on Fox News in November, Newsom, who had expected DeSantis to resign and support Trump, congratulated him.