Toni Atkins (California)
Toni Atkins (Democratic Party) is running for election for Governor of California. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Atkins also ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of California. She will not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 3, 2026.
Atkins (Democratic Party) was a member of the California State Senate, representing District 39. She assumed office in 2016. She left office on December 2, 2024.
Atkins served as state Senate president pro tempore from 2018 to February 5, 2024.[1][2]
Atkins was voted in unanimously as speaker of the Assembly on March 14, 2014.[3] She replaced Speaker John Perez, who was termed out from elections in 2014. On September 3, 2015, Assembly Democrats voted unanimously to replace Atkins as speaker with Assemblyman Anthony Rendon. He assumed the leadership position in January 2016.[4]
Biography
Atkins earned her B.S. in political science/community organizing from Emory and Henry College and graduated from the Senior Executive Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University in 2004. Her professional experience includes working as director of clinic services for Womancare Health Center, on the staff of Council Member Christine Kehoe of the City of San Diego and working as a senior policy analyst for LeSar Development Company since 2008.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Atkins was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Atkins was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Atkins was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Health |
| • Labor and Industrial Relations |
| • Natural Resources and Water |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation and Housing |
| • Rules |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Atkins served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Atkins served on the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Health |
| • Housing and Community Development |
| • Veterans Affairs |
| • Legislative Audit |
| • Joint Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Atkins served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Governmental Organization |
| • Health |
| • Housing and Community Development, Vice chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Veterans Affairs |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2026
See also: California lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Lieutenant Governor of California
The following candidates are running in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of California on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Steven Bradford (D) | |
 | Josh Fryday (D) | |
 | Janelle Kellman (D)  | |
 | Fiona Ma (D) | |
 | Tim Myers (D) | |
 | Mike Schaefer (D) | |
 | Michael Tubbs (D) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Toni Atkins (D)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2024
Toni Atkins was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2020
See also: California State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for California State Senate District 39
Incumbent Toni Atkins defeated Linda Blankenship in the general election for California State Senate District 39 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Toni Atkins (D) | 66.2 | 336,467 |
 | Linda Blankenship (R) | 33.8 | 171,952 | |
| Total votes: 508,419 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for California State Senate District 39
Incumbent Toni Atkins and Linda Blankenship advanced from the primary for California State Senate District 39 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Toni Atkins (D) | 91.9 | 212,626 |
| ✔ | | Linda Blankenship (R) (Write-in) | 8.1 | 18,643 |
| Total votes: 231,269 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the California State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016.[5] Incumbent Martin Block (D) did not seek re-election.
Toni Atkins defeated John Renison in the California State Senate District 39 general election.[6][7]
| California State Senate, District 39 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Toni Atkins |
62.52% | 258,686 | |
| Republican | John Renison | 37.48% | 155,053 | |
| Total Votes | 413,739 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
Toni Atkins and John Renison defeated J. Bribiesca and Richard M. Fago in the California State Senate District 39 Blanket primary.[8][9]
| California State Senate, District 39 Blanket Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Toni Atkins |
66.33% | 159,970 | |
| Republican | John Renison |
18.14% | 43,760 | |
| Republican | J. Bribiesca | 11.01% | 26,565 | |
| Republican | Richard M. Fago | 4.52% | 10,895 | |
| Total Votes | 241,190 | |||
2014
Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Incumbent Toni Atkins (D) and Barbara Decker (R) defeated Kevin D. Melton (R) in the blanket primary. Atkins defeated Decker in the general election.[10][11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Toni Atkins Incumbent |
61.6% | 72,224 | |
| Republican | Barbara Decker | 38.4% | 45,088 | |
| Total Votes | 117,312 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |
Toni Atkins Incumbent |
60.2% | 45,922 | |
| Republican | Barbara Decker |
28.2% | 21,545 | |
| Republican | Kevin D. Melton | 11.6% | 8,855 | |
| Total Votes | 76,322 | |||
2012
Atkins won re-election in the 2012 election for California State Assembly District 78. Due to redistricting following the 2010 census, he was displaced from District 76. He advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Robert Williams (R). Atkins defeated Ralph Denney (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[13][14][15]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Toni Atkins Incumbent |
62.4% | 116,987 | |
| Republican | Ralph Denney | 37.6% | 70,526 | |
| Total Votes | 187,513 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |
Toni Atkins Incumbent |
59.8% | 54,175 | |
| Republican | Ralph Denney |
27.9% | 25,291 | |
| Republican | Robert Williams | 12.3% | 11,121 | |
| Total Votes | 90,587 | |||
2010
Atkins was uncontested in the June 8 primary election. He defeated Republican Ralph Denney and Libertarian Daniel H. Baehr in the November 2 general election.[16]
| California State Assembly, District 76 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Toni Atkins (D)
|
75,357 | |||
| Ralph Denney (R) | 48,610 | |||
| Daniel H. Baehr (L) | 6,679 | |||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Toni Atkins did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Toni Atkins did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Atkins' website highlighted the following campaign themes:[17]
- Excerpt: "As your Assemblymember, I’m committed to continue my work to tackle some of the most difficult problems, including affordable health care, homelessness and environmental protection while pursuing economic growth for our region."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
In 2024, the California State Legislature was in session from January 3 to August 31. A special session in the Assembly was from August 31, 2024 to October 14, 2024 and another special session started on December 2, 2024.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the chamber.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to the interests of health care consumers.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on taxpayer-related issues.
- Legislators are scored on issues related to sexual and reproductive health.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on issues related to sexual and reproductive health.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the California State Legislature was in session from January 1 to September 14.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the California State Legislature was in session from January 3 to August 31.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the California State Legislature was in session from December 7 to September 10.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the California State Legislature was in session from January 6 to August 31.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the California State Legislature was in session from January 7 through September 13.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the California State Legislature was in session from January 3, 2018 through August 31, 2018.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the California State Legislature was in session from December 5, 2016 through September 15, 2017.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 through August 31. The formal session ended on August 31, but constitutionally the session adjourned sine die on November 30.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the California State Legislature was in session from December 1, 2014, through September 12, 2015.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the California State Legislature was in session from January 6 to August 30.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the California State Legislature was in session from December 3, 2012, to September 13, 2013
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 to August 31.
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Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Manteca Bulletin, "California to get first female and first LGBT State Senate leader," March 18, 2018
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Column: Hardscrabble trailblazer Toni Atkins would be an intriguing candidate for California governor," December 7, 2023
- ↑ latimes.com, "Assemblywoman Toni Atkins voted in as speaker-elect," March 14, 2014
- ↑ voiceofsandiego.org, "Sacramento Report: Atkins Out as Speaker," accessed September 8, 2015
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Key Dates and Deadlines," accessed April 18, 2017
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for the November 8, 2016, General Election," accessed September 7, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "2016 General Election results," accessed December 23, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices," accessed April 4, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Statement of Vote," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary election candidate list," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed July 15, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 14, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ atkinsforassembly.com, "Official campaign website," accessed May 14, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
California State Senate District 39 2016-2024 |
Succeeded by Akilah Weber (D) |
| Preceded by - |
California State Assembly District 78 2010-2016 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
San Diego City Council 2000-2008 |
Succeeded by - |
