Toni Atkins, former leader of both houses of the California legislature and candidate for governor, brought her campaign to Stockton on Sunday during a morning meet-and-greet, at the Weberstown Farmer’s Market. She was also publicly endorsed by an old friend from the state senate.
Atkins (D-San Diego) is calling her statewide campaign tour “Toni In Your Town,” which aims to meet as many people as possible, according to Communications Director Danni Wang. The farmer’s market was just one of many stops along her team’s path, with the tour stretching across California, starting in Red Bluff and working south to Riverside.
The tour also includes smaller cities such as Woodland, Yuba City, and Davis. Wang explained that campaigning in communities of all sizes is important to foster a sense of familiarity with Atkins, regardless of city size. The tour, which began last Wednesday in Red Bluff, Tehama County, a historically Republican leaning area, is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 28 and cover both rural and urban regions.
Former California State Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton) endorsed Atkins, citing her depth of experience and legislative leadership.
“A lot of people run for governor who think it’s a good idea and then, you know, come in and are very surprised at the complexities of the state of California,” Eggman said.
“Toni has been the leader in two houses, has negotiated with 120 unruly legislators and two governors, and helped keep California as the fourth-largest economy in the world,”
Atkins’ campaign site describes her story, telling a journey from a poor upbringing in rural Appalachia to political success in California.
Atkins told Stocktonia she’s been in Stockton many times before, and her team enjoy visiting the agricultural markets of San Joaquin County. She also made an appearance in Lodi just a few hours after.
In 2016, San Diego voters elected her to the State Senate, and after just one year, she was again selected by her colleagues to serve as Senate President pro Tempore, becoming the first woman and boasted being the first openly LGBTQ person to lead the Legislature’s upper house. Atkins is the first person in 150 years, the third person in California history, and the only woman to lead both houses of the Legislature.
Representative Scott Peters also endorsed Atkins earlier this year, calling her the “most qualified person for governor.”
Atkins currently holds roughly $4.2 million in campaign funds, with similar funding to former Congresswoman Katie Porter steadily raised similar funds and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. There are 10 candidates vying for the governorship.
In addition to Eggman and Peters, endorsements have come from several state senators and assemblymembers.
The primary election for governor begins June 2, 2026, with the top two candidates going head-to-head in a general election on Nov. 3, 2026. After Kamala Harris announced she would not run for governor this term, If elected, Atkins would become California’s first woman governor.
For a brief period in 2014, she even served as acting governor while then-Governor Jerry Brown was out of town, joking, “If Governor Brown wants a few more days away, I’m here for him.”