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Statewide constitutional office

Attorney General of California

This durable statewide office is California's chief law office. The office remains the same when its officeholder changes.

View the latest election
Data coverage
Government
State of California
Public body
California Department of Justice
Electoral area
California statewide
Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewide
i
Reviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Office overview

The office at a glance

See what this office does, the government it belongs to, the area it represents, and how voters choose its officeholder.

Government levelStateState of California
Contest typeVoter-nominatedCalifornia top-two primary
SeatStatewide officeOne of California's eight statewide constitutional offices
Regular term4 yearsRegular term; next election is 2026; no one may serve more than two terms in this office

What this office does

Serves as California's chief law officer

The Attorney General represents the people and interests of California in civil and criminal matters, oversees the Department of Justice, and works to ensure that state law is uniformly and adequately enforced.

California Department of Justice

Election process

A statewide top-two election every four years

All voters receive the same voter-nominated candidate list. The top two primary finishers advance regardless of party preference, and the general-election winner serves a four-year term.

Next electionNovember 3, 2026

Open the 2026 Election Page
California statewide statisticsJuly 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures

These statewide measures describe the shared electoral area for all eight California constitutional offices. They do not describe an officeholder's performance. QuickFacts combines the latest available population estimate with 2020–2024 Census measures, so each row retains its own period note.

People and households

Population
39,355,309July 1, 2025 estimate
Persons per household
2.842020–2024
Foreign-born residents
27.0%Share of residents; 2020–2024

Income and education

Median household income
$99,1222024 inflation-adjusted dollars
People in poverty
11.8%2020–2024
Bachelor's degree or higher
37.1%Population age 25+; 2020–2024

Housing

Housing units
14,995,410July 1, 2025 estimate
Homeownership rate
55.9%Occupied housing units; 2020–2024
Median gross rent
$2,036Monthly; 2020–2024
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

Current officeholder

Who currently holds this office?

The official Department of Justice website and California Roster identify Rob Bonta as California's current Attorney General.

Past officeholders33 verified succession records

Succession history

Explore prior service

All prior officeholders listed in the 2026 California Roster.

A displayed end boundary is the date on which the next listed officeholder assumed office; it is not independently asserted as the prior officeholder's final day.

Electoral area

Where this office represents

See the geographic area represented by this office and open its location information when available.

Outline map of California, the statewide electoral area
California statewideReviewed California state outline. This office represents the full state. A district comparison tool is not needed.

Reviewed electoral area

California

Voters in all 58 California counties elect this officeholder to one statewide office.

A reviewed static map is shown while a reliable interactive boundary remains unavailable.

Open the Location Page

Past elections

Election history

This section covers completed elections. Current and upcoming contests remain on the Election Page linked from the top of this Office Page. A published past Election Page contains the full candidate list, certified result, campaign-finance coverage, methodology, and source documents.

Election archive

November 8, 2022 · Attorney General of California page not yet published

The election is listed so the office chronology is clear, but its result and source documents have not yet been assembled into a Paper Trail Politics Election Page.

Public records

Records connected to this office

Open the official records used to follow the work, decisions, or disclosures connected to this office.

Legal opinions

Attorney General opinions

Search published formal legal opinions and the current monthly opinion report.

Open official record

Ballot initiatives

Initiatives awaiting circulation

Review official titles and summaries prepared by the Attorney General for proposed statewide initiatives.

Open official record

Open government

Open government resources

Open official guidance, publications, and records relating to public access and government accountability.

Open official record

News and Press Releases

Updates from this office

Read press releases, official updates, and coverage selected by this office. Follow each link to its source.

Official portrait of Rob Bonta
California Department of Justice
California Department of Justice
Official update

Attorney General Bonta lays out case against Meta over youth mental-health harms

The Attorney General described California's case before opening statements in litigation alleging that Meta's products harmed young users.

California Department of JusticeRead official update
Official portrait of Rob Bonta
California Department of Justice
California Department of Justice
Official update

Attorney General Bonta secures court victory protecting gender-affirming care under the Affordable Care Act

The Department of Justice reported a court ruling concerning federal Affordable Care Act protections for gender-affirming care.

California Department of JusticeRead official update
Official portrait of Rob Bonta
California Department of Justice
California Department of Justice
Official update

California Department of Justice releases report on officer-involved shooting of Austin Heiselman

The Department of Justice published its report concerning an officer-involved shooting investigated under California law.

California Department of JusticeRead official update

Sources

Sources and data coverage

Review the public records used on this page, what Paper Trail Politics has captured, and what remains incomplete.

Current assessmentStrong coverage

The office identity, current officeholder and contact, verified succession chronology, California-wide electoral area and statistics, connected 2026 election, official records, related statewide offices, three current official publications, and source trail are included.

Assessed August 18, 2026 · Current 2026 records

The 2018 and 2022 Election Pages, compensation, additional succession context, and full visual and accessibility release review remain incomplete.

Sources used on this page27 source organizations · 51 records
Official candidate source

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Candidate list and ballot informationhttps://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2026-primary/sov/64-ag.xlsx
U.S. Census Bureau state boundary

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Boundary source for State of Californiahttps://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/USLandmass/MapServer/0
California Department of Justice

11 records from this source are used on the page.

Official government information about the office and public bodyhttps://oag.ca.gov/officeThe official Department of Justice website and California Roster identify Rob Bonta as California's current Attorney General.https://oag.ca.gov/contactPortrait source page for Rob Bontahttps://www.oag.ca.gov/aboutMonth and year corrected against the Attorney General's official office history.https://oag.ca.gov/historyAttorney General opinionshttps://oag.ca.gov/opinionsInitiatives awaiting circulationhttps://oag.ca.gov/initiatives/active-measuresOpen government resourceshttps://oag.ca.gov/open-governmentOfficial update: Attorney General Bonta lays out case against Meta over youth mental-health harmshttps://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-opening-statements-attorney-general-bonta-lays-out-case-against-meta-overOfficial update: Attorney General Bonta secures court victory protecting gender-affirming care under the Affordable Care Acthttps://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-major-court-victory-protecting-gender-affirmingOfficial update: California Department of Justice releases report on officer-involved shooting of Austin Heiselmanhttps://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-department-justice-releases-report-officer-involved-shooting-austin-0Official publication archive used to review current News items.https://oag.ca.gov/media/news
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California

1 record from this source is used on the page.

July 1, 2025 population estimate and 2020–2024 measures detailed district statisticshttps://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045225
California Secretary of State · 2026 History of California Constitutional Officeholders

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Verified succession chronology for Attorney General of Californiahttps://admin.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ca-roster/2026/history-of-officers.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Xavier Becerra · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services · Public domain (U.S. government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HHS_Xavier_Becerra.jpg
California Attorney General's Office via Wikimedia Commons

12 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Kamala D. Harris · California Attorney General's Office · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kamala_Harris_Official_Attorney_General_Photo_(cropped_2).jpgReviewed photograph for Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown, Jr. · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edmund_G_Brown_Jr.jpgReviewed photograph for William H. H. Hart · Office of the Attorney General of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_H._Hart.jpgReviewed photograph for George A. Johnson · Office of the Attorney General of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_A._Johnson_(1).jpgReviewed photograph for Augustus L. Hart · Office of the Attorney General of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:August_L._Hart_(1).jpgReviewed photograph for Jo Hamilton · Office of the Attorney General of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jo_Hamilton_1_(a).jpgReviewed photograph for John Lord Love · Office of the Attorney General of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Love_11th_Attorney_General_of_California_(1).jpgReviewed photograph for Thomas H. Williams · Office of the Attorney General of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_H._Williams.jpgReviewed photograph for William T. Wallace · Office of the Attorney General of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_T._Wallace_(1).jpgReviewed photograph for John R. McConnell · Unknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_R._McConnell.jpgReviewed photograph for James A. McDougall · Office of the Attorney General of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_A._McDougall.jpgReviewed photograph for Edward J. C. Kewan · Unknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kewen.jpg
CalPERS via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Bill Lockyer · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bill-Lockyer.jpg
Office of U.S. Representative Dan Lungren via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Dan Lungren · Office of U.S. Representative Dan Lungren · Public domain (U.S. government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DanLungren_2009.jpg
Neon Tommy via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for John Van de Kamp · Neon Tommy · CC BY-SA 2.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Van_de_Kamp_2012.jpg
Office of Governor George Deukmejian via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for George Deukmejian · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Deukmejian_official_photograph.jpg
California Blue Book 1971 via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Evelle J. Younger · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Evelle_J._Younger,_1971.jpg
California Blue Book 1967 via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Thomas C. Lynch · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_C._Lynch,_1967.jpg
California Blue Book 1963 via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Stanley Mosk · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stanley_Mosk,_1963.jpg
California Blue Book 1954 via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Edmund G. Brown · California State Printing Office · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pat_Brown,_1954.jpg
UCLA Library via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Fred N. Howser · Los Angeles Daily News · CC BY 4.0https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederick_N._Howser,_1943.jpg
California State Library via Wikimedia Commons

3 records from this source are used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Robert W. Kenny · State of California · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Walker_Kenny_Trim.jpgReviewed photograph for Earl Warren · State of California · Public domain (California government work)https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earl_Warren_1944.jpgReviewed photograph for Ulysses S. Webb · State of California · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ulysses_Siegel_Webb_Crop.jpg
Internet Archive via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Tirey L. Ford · Unknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tirey_L._Ford_1912.jpg
History of the Bench and Bar of California via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for William F. Fitzgerald · Unknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Francis_Fitzgerald.jpg
Kentucky Digital Library via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Edward C. Marshall · Louis Truly · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edward-C-Marshall.jpg
Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for John G. McCullough · Unknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_G_McCullough.jpg
Calisphere via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for Frank M. Pixley · Unknown author · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frank_Morrison_Pixley_(cropped).jpg
Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for William M. Stewart · Mathew Brady and Levin C. Handy · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_M._Stewart_-_Brady-Handy_(cropped).jpg
Harvard Law School Library via Wikimedia Commons

1 record from this source is used on the page.

Reviewed photograph for S. Clinton Hastings · John Chester Buttre, after a photograph by Vaughan · Public domainhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Serranus_Clinton_Hastings_by_John_Chester_Buttre_(1).jpeg
California Secretary of State

2 records from this source are used on the page.

California Roster source for the eight current statewide constitutional officers and their office contact information.https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/california-rosterOfficial explanation of California voter-nominated and nonpartisan primary election rules.https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/primary-elections-california
California Legislative Information

1 record from this source is used on the page.

California Constitution Article V source for executive powers, statewide election timing, terms, and term limits.https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?article=V&chapter=&division=&lawCode=CONS&part=&title=
U.S. Census Bureau

1 record from this source is used on the page.

State cartographic boundary source underlying the static California map treatment.https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/cartographic-boundary.html
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