SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Toni Atkins, a former California Assembly speaker and former president pro tempore of the State Senate, is withdrawing her campaign to become the state's next governor.

She was among the crowded pool of Democrats hoping to take Gov. Gavin Newsom's place once he terms out in 2026. In California, one can only hold the office of governor for two terms.

In a Monday message to her supporters, she said it's important that California Democrats be united in response to President Donald Trump's policies.

"That’s why it’s with such a heavy heart that I’m stepping aside today as a candidate for governor," Atkins said. "Despite the strong support we’ve received and all we’ve achieved, there is simply no viable path forward to victory. Though my campaign is ending, I will keep

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