The 2026 California governor race is becoming a national flashpoint in the debate over transgender rights, with Democratic candidate Toni Atkins sharply criticizing former President Donald Trump’s policies targeting LGBTQ+ Americans.
Speaking to over 1,000 attendees at the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast in Palm Springs, former Senate leader Toni Atkins delivered a passionate speech condemning Trump’s anti-transgender executive orders. “These acts strip away human dignity and put lives in danger,” Atkins said, emphasizing that transgender youth “deserve love, joy, and protection.”
Atkins, a trailblazer in California LGBTQ+ politics and the only openly gay major candidate in the race, positioned herself as a fierce defender of California’s inclusive values. Her remarks directly addressed Trump’s recent federal bans—including restrictions on transgender athletes and a rollback of legal gender recognition—which are shaping the tone of the California governor race 2026.
As California’s LGBTQ+ population, which exceeds 2.8 million, faces increasing threats from federal policy, Atkins and other top Democrats—including Eleni Kounalakis, Xavier Becerra, and Katie Porter—are doubling down on their support for LGBTQ+ rights in California.
While California voters overwhelmingly backed same-sex marriage protections last year, Trump’s renewed focus on transgender restrictions—including military bans and gender-identity limitations in schools—has created new urgency among advocates. Critics like Atkins and Palm Springs’ Ron deHarte warn these measures aren’t about policy, but cruelty.
“The state has to prepare for what’s coming,” warned journalist Hank Plante, citing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ suggestion to revisit same-sex marriage rights. Meanwhile, students and educators in California say fear is growing in classrooms, as the Department of Education investigates local protections for trans students.
Republican candidates like Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are siding with Trump, promising to implement transgender sports bans if elected. But LGBTQ+ advocates argue these efforts distract from real policy priorities like housing and education access.
“This is a moral test,” said deHarte. “Leaders must choose between compliance with federal overreach or standing for California’s core values.”
As the 2026 California governor election unfolds, transgender rights and Trump’s influence on LGBTQ+ policy will remain at the heart of the debate, challenging candidates to define their vision for the state’s future.
