Mr. Banta, um, are you staying out of the governor’s race still? Is that still the plan for you? Well, I haven’t said I wasn’t gonna run for *** third term. I am staying out of the governor’s race. I, I am honored, grateful, feel it’s *** privilege to serve as AG, uh, anytime, uh, and particularly in these times. This is the most important moment and the most important job I’ve ever had. I wanna give everything I have to it my time, my attention, my passion, my energy, my focus, um, we have more than one case *** week we’re fighting for the future of our democracy rights, protections, the rule of law, our Constitution. And I want to be central to that fight, uh, on behalf of the people of this great state and this great country, so I’m completely focused on being the best AG I can. If I did have *** third term, I wouldn’t want to lose him as AG doing exceptional job, so I like that answer. Even if you thought that was *** political animal, you may have thought that. Thank you guys. Thank you.
‘This is the most important moment’: California AG Rob Bonta to stay out of governor’s race
Updated: 5:44 PM PDT Oct 28, 2025
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he intends to stay out of the state’s upcoming governor’s race, as Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to term out.Several notable Democrats have already been campaigning, but it was unclear if Bonta would join the ranks. See who is running here. He gave the definitive answer on Tuesday, after he was asked by KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala at a press conference. “I am staying out of the governor’s race,” Bonta said. “I feel it’s a privilege to serve as AG, anytime, and particularly in these times. This is the most important moment in the most important job I’ve ever had.”In Tuesday’s press conference, Bonta and Newsom announced California was joining several states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the lack of food stamp funding. It marked California’s 45th lawsuit against the Trump administration.”We have more than one case a week. We’re fighting for the future of our democracy, rights, protections, the rule of law, our Constitution, and I want to be central to that fight,” Bonta said.Newsom joked he hadn’t announced he wasn’t running for a third term, a subtle jab at President Donald Trump’s consideration of a third term despite constitutional barriers.”If I did have a third term, I wouldn’t want to lose him as AG,” Newsom said. “He’s doing an exceptional job.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he intends to stay out of the state’s upcoming governor’s race, as Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to term out.
Several notable Democrats have already been campaigning, but it was unclear if Bonta would join the ranks. See who is running here.
He gave the definitive answer on Tuesday, after he was asked by KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala at a press conference.
“I am staying out of the governor’s race,” Bonta said. “I feel it’s a privilege to serve as AG, anytime, and particularly in these times. This is the most important moment in the most important job I’ve ever had.”
In Tuesday’s press conference, Bonta and Newsom announced California was joining several states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the lack of food stamp funding. It marked California’s 45th lawsuit against the Trump administration.
“We have more than one case a week. We’re fighting for the future of our democracy, rights, protections, the rule of law, our Constitution, and I want to be central to that fight,” Bonta said.
Newsom joked he hadn’t announced he wasn’t running for a third term, a subtle jab at President Donald Trump’s consideration of a third term despite constitutional barriers.
“If I did have a third term, I wouldn’t want to lose him as AG,” Newsom said. “He’s doing an exceptional job.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel