Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta and Republican candidate Michael Gates will compete to be California’s attorney general in November after earning the most votes in Tuesday’s primary election.

The California attorney general – the state’s top lawyer and law enforcement official – represents California in state and federal supreme courts, assists district attorneys and oversees state law enforcement.

Bonta and Gates – the deputy assistant attorney general for the United States Department of Justice – received 54.9% and 40.6% of the primary vote share, respectively, according to 270toWin. Marjorie Mikels, a UCLA School of Law alumnus who received 4.5% of the primary vote share, will not advance to the general election.

Bonta and Gates’ campaigns did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bonta represented California State Assembly District 18 – which includes parts of Alameda County – for eight years before being appointed California attorney general in 2021. Bonta’s endorsements include Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Nurses Association.

Bonta plans to protect access to reproductive healthcare and regulate large corporations, which are continuations of his policies from his first two terms, according to his campaign website.

He also wants to protect the state by filing lawsuits against the Trump administration, his website said. Bonta has filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration since January 2025, securing temporary injunctions in 35 cases, according to his campaign website.

Bonta also plans to address the fentanyl crisis in collaboration with local law enforcement, according to his campaign website. He established the Fentanyl Enforcement Program – which places teams across the state to investigate fentanyl trafficking – in 2022.

Bonta’s campaign has raised $2.59 million in direct contributions, according to CalMatters. His donors include the California Federation of Teachers and the United Domestic Workers of America Action Fund.

Gates, who worked as a prosecutor, wants to “protect girls’ sports by keeping boys out of girls’ sports,” according to his campaign website. He plans to focus on supporting public safety and bolstering law enforcement by ensuring legal defense for officers and protecting police funding, according to the website.

His policy goals also include implementing additional land use, zoning and housing regulations, according to the site. Gates was endorsed by the Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Association and the California Rifle & Pistol Association.

Gates’ campaign raised $1.05 million in direct contributions from donors, including the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and the Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Association political action committee.

Mikels, who has been a licensed attorney for 44 years, sought to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and prevent censorship in the state, according to her campaign website. Her campaign also centered on levying taxes on wealthy Californians.

Mikels was endorsed by the socialist Peace & Freedom Party.

Mikels’ campaign fundraising focused on individual donations and did not accept donations from PACs or large corporations, according to her campaign website. Mikels will not proceed to the November general election.