This week, former Vice President Kamala Harris announced she won’t run for governor of California in 2026. 

WomenCount has a long history with Kamala. As Alameda County DA in 1996, she was an original co-founder of our organization. We supported then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris in 2016 as she became the second Black woman elected to the US Senate and the first from California. And we supported her—and celebrated her—as she became the first Black woman elected Vice President.

Now, without Kamala, the race for California governor is wide open, with 11 declared Democratic candidates, including four women: 

• Former Speaker of the State Assembly Toni Atkins; 
• Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis; 
• Former US Rep. Katie Porter; and
• Former State Controller Betty Yee. 

Even though California has led on women’s representation in the past—it was the first state to send two women in the US Senate, and continued to do that until 2022—the state has never had a female governor. 

Now, multiple women are running and that milestone is within reach. Three of these four candidates are raising through WomenCount. Check out our 2026 California Governor slate and give to all of them or customize your giving.