Toni Atkins’ next chapter

Inside the Golden State political arena

Dec 11, 2023 View in browser   By Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner California state Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins looks on during a briefing with district representatives, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, in San Diego. | AP THE BUZZ — Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins will go down in history as one of the most successful state lawmakers. Her next challenge, if she runs for statewide office, will be getting the people of California to care. Atkins, a San Diego Democrat, will leave her perch of power on Feb. 5, handing over the scepter to North Coast Sen. Mike McGuire and ending a nearly six-year run as head of California’s upper chamber. She is the third lawmaker and first woman to serve as both speaker of the California Assembly and Senate president pro tem — and her reputation as a pragmatic and productive lawmaker has earned her the respect of colleagues on both sides of the aisle. It’s the kind of record that seems primed to propel someone to higher office, and Atkins for months has signaled her interest in mounting a campaign for governor in 2026. But as she approaches the final weeks of a celebrated run, she’s reckoning with the realities of her potential next step — a grueling, years-long race that would pit her against well-funded, well-known fellow Democrats as she fights for donors and endorsements. “This is a different challenge,” she told Playbook of a run for governor. “And clearly you’ve got to have resources to communicate who you are and your message.” Unlike the other hopefuls — who include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and, possibly, Attorney General Rob Bonta — Atkins has never been on a statewide ballot. That puts her at an immediate disadvantage in name recognition. Closing that gap would require a robust war chest. Atkins considers herself a good fundraiser. But she’d face tough competition in Kounalakis, who earlier this year reported more than $6 million in her campaign accounts and has connections with political insiders and wealthy donors like her father, Sacramento developer Angelo Tskapolous.  Atkins would also need the support of major labor groups — many of which have strong ties with Bonta.    One of her greatest strengths is her story. Born into poverty in rural Appalachia, she rose through the ranks of local government in San Diego, made history as the first lesbian to lead the Assembly, then the Senate, and passed policy on housing, reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality and the environment. “She has a story that resonates with people,” said Greg Campbell, a California lobbyist and her former chief of staff. “She has a character that resonates with people.” Atkins will spend January focused on moving two-year bills out of the chamber, after which she wants to work on some legislation as a rank-and-file member that “really matters to me.” She’s spending the holidays discussing a potential campaign with her family, and signaled she’d rather make a decision sooner than later. "I don't want to sit in a state of flux," she said. GOOD MORNING. Happy Monday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — What are you watching for in the Senate leadership change? Hear any rumblings about committee chairs? Give us a ring or drop us a line. Now you can text us at ‪916-562-0685‬‪ — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter —@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER: We’re hosting a holiday-themed trivia night in Sacramento! Join POLITICO’s California team TOMORROW NIGHT, Dec. 12, for an evening of political wonkery and libations at the Fox & Goose Public House on R Street. The games start at 6 p.m. RSVP here. P.S. Prize for the most festive and/or hideous holiday outfit! FRESH INK Former Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) tried to fund geoengineering research through spending bills. | Andrew Harnik/AP DYNASTY DODGED? — Former Rep. Jerry McNerney is running for an open seat in California’s Legislature less than a year after leaving Congress, our colleague Jeremy B. White reports. McNerney’s entry further upends the fast-changing race for the vacant 5th Senate district, which state Sen. Susan Eggman is leaving at the end of the year, and could be seen as an effort to block a dynasty-making play by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua and his wife, Edith Villapudua. Carlos Villapudua’s last-minute swerve last week into the state Senate race looked likely to benefit his wife, who had been running for the same Senate seat but faced a tough Democratic opponent. As of last week, Edith Villapudua was positioned to run unopposed for the Assembly seat her husband is vacating. So much for that: Fellow Democrat Rhodesia Ransom is following Edith’s lead and switching from a Senate race (for which she won the California Democratic Party endorsement, besting Edith) to an Assembly run, transferring the same matchup to a new contest. GOODBYE, GARCIA — That wasn’t the only last-minute development: Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia did not file for reelection in the 36th Assembly district, according to the secretary of state’s office. Garcia isn’t termed out until 2026 but he recently lost the influential Energy and Utilities Committee chairmanship after Speaker Robert Rivas reshuffled the leadership deck. (Garcia’s people had no comment.) OUT OF THE FRYING PAN — A spokesperson for California’s attorney general is launching a bid for the Legislature. Walter Garcia, who recently took a leave of absence from his job as a spokesperson for Attorney General Rob Bonta, announced his run for Assembly District 43 over the weekend, the San Fernando Valley seat held by Democratic member Luz Rivas, who is running for retiring Rep. Tony Cárdenas’ congressional seat. Garcia previously served as press secretary for former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and was once a fellow for Cárdenas. STAFFERS CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE — California Capitol staffers are circulating a letter urging their bosses to adopt a formal position calling for an immediate, permanent cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas and the safe release of hostages. The letter, which Playbook first learned about from the Washington-based Instagram account, Dear White Staffers, is directed to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President pro tem Atkins and pro tem designee Mike McGuire. In addition to asking leaders to demand a permanent ceasefire, the letter also urges them to demand the U.S. introduce a resolution at the United Nations for the establishment of an international war-time criminal tribunal to investigate and prosecute crimes committed in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Organizers told Playbook the letter received more than 100 signatures in the first 24 hours. The outcry from staffers underscores continued tensions over Israeli-Palestinian relations that have roiled the California Democratic party in recent weeks. Pro-Palestinian protests temporarily shut down a state party convention in Sacramento last month, and Newsom last week canceled an in-person tree lighting ceremony because of planned protests, citing security concerns. WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY PRESIDENTIAL GLITZ: President Joe Biden was in Los Angeles over the weekend for a marathon of fundraisers for his reelection campaign. One glittery event included musician Lenny Kravitz and was co-hosted by directors Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner. (Los Angeles Times) BEHIND THE DRAMA: Turmoil over Sam Altman’s leadership at OpenAI exposed fissures between board members and executives — raising questions about the polarized group of leaders at the forefront of the artificial intelligence industry. (The New York Times) PLAYBOOKERS BIRTHDAYS — (was Saturday): Adam Gottlieb … Samantha Tubman … Google’s Cris Turner … Hammad Ul Hassan … (was Friday): Nancy Meyers ... Rabbi Aaron Lerner ... Alex Oppenheimer … Microsoft’s Ginny Badanes … artist Sophia Narrett … Austin James CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner Lara Korte @lara_korte POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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