Toni G. Atkins DEMDemocrat

Toni Gayle Atkins (born August 1, 1962) is an American politician who served as the 51st President pro tempore of the California State Senate from 2018 to 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 69th Speaker of the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2016 and the California State Assembly Majority Leader from 2012-2014. She has represented the 39th State Senate district since 2016, encompassing most of San Diego. Upon her election as Speaker of the State Assembly, she became the third woman and first acknowledged lesbian to be elected to the position, as well as the first lawmaker from San Diego holding the office. She served on the San Diego City Council from 2000 to 2008, including a term as Acting Mayor of San Diego in 2005. She also served as Acting Governor of California for nine hours on July 30, 2014, which made her California's "first openly gay governor" and again on July 6, 2023 where she became the first LGBT Person to sign a bill into law in the state. In 2018, she was elected as State Senate President pro tempore, becoming the first woman and the first openly LGBT person to lead the California State Senate, and the first Woman and LGBT Person to lead both chambers of the state legislature . On January 19, 2024, she launched her campaign for Governor in the 2026 election.