OB Staff Report / September 30, 2025 
Former San Diego state senator Toni Atkins has withdrawn from the crowded race for California governor, saying in a statement Monday that “there is simply no viable path forward to victory.”
The decision comes just one month after a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll ranked Atkins 11th out of 12 gubernatorial candidates, with 1 percent of respondents choosing her as their first-place choice, and 38 percent undecided.
The three top-ranked candidates were Democrat Katie Porter, chosen as first by 17 percent, Republican Chad Bianco, chosen by 10 percent, and Democrat Xavier Becerra, chosen by 9 percent.
Atkins achieved high statewide visibility as Senate president pro tem and Assembly speaker. On August 10, she opened her campaign headquarters in Mission Hills, telling a throng of VIP supporters, “It’s not just a campaign headquarters, it’s the heartbeat of a movement.”
In Monday’s announcement, Atkins said, “I entered this race because I still believe in the promise of California — and I’ve spent my life trying to fulfill that promise for more Californians. … That’s why it’s with such a heavy heart that I’m stepping aside today as a candidate for governor. Despite the strong support we’re received and all we’ve achieved, there is simply no viable path forward to victory.”
Good. I’m trying to remember anything she did FOR SD voters when she was a councilwoman here. And, I don’t recall seeing anything in the news where she did anything FOR the voters in SD, at the State level.
Voters need to learn how to research the voting history of all former politicians, prior to voting for them when they want to move up the political ladder, or get re-elected again. CA is in a very precarious position, caused by voters voting like it’s a popularity contest of hair styles, clothes, glad handing, pumping them up by gas lighting (feeding them BS promises) then don’t keep their promises to their constituents. Ask every politician a direct question. If they waltz all around the point of your question and give you a bunch of meaningless words, BUT not a direct answer to your direct question, then don’t vote for them. You don’t need the time and temperature in some far off place, you need a direct answer to your direct question.
Gosh. How will her spouse make money off development now? Look for Ms. Atkins to angle for a development/housing related post with the city.