The 2026 California governor’s race so far lacks a clear frontrunner – and, with the exceptions of state schools chief Tony Thurmond, who’s mired in the low single digits, and Congressmember Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), who has vaulted to a top position, many candidates have not offered full-throated support for the transgender community. We wish there was a credible LGBTQ candidate, but that, too, withered on the vine when lesbian former legislative leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) suspended her campaign in early October two weeks after an editorial board meeting with us.

In that meeting, Atkins was unequivocal in her support for trans youth. Atkins said she was disappointed in Governor Gavin Newsom’s comments to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, when he said it was a matter of f

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