California's Atty. General Rob Bonta wins election in a landslide

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Rob Bonta made history Nov. 8 when he was elected to a full term as Attorney General.

California's Attorney General Rob Bonta won his election decisively last Tuesday. Due to the state's counting procedures and the sheer number of ballots to be tallied, official results have not been announced, but the votes counted this far puts the Filipino American far ahead of his challenger.

"Only in California can the son of an immigrant mom and a hardworking dad earn an opportunity like this to serve and succeed. Grateful," tweeted Bonta Thursday.

As of presstime Saturday evening, Bonta held a comfortable lead over opponent Nathan Hochman, 58% vs. 42%. Several news outlets called the race in Bonta's favor with 60% of the vote counted.

Bonta, 50, is the first Filipino American to hold the job of the state's top law enforcement officer. He was appointed in 2020 to finish off the term of his predecessor, Xavier Becerra, who was named the state's US Senator after Kamala Harris became Vice President.

Because Bonta was appointed more than midway through his Padilla's four-year term, he’s eligible to run for two additional full terms, which could allow him to serve nearly 10 years in an office that already has given him a national stage on issues as diverse as abortion, climate change, gay rights and gun control.

California's attorney general post has launched the careers of many of those who have held it and may do the same for Bonta.

Bonta took over when Becerra left to become the Biden administration’s health secretary, and Becerra succeeded Harris, who went on to the US Senate and now is vice president. Edmund “Pat” Brown became governor, an accomplishment repeated by his son, Jerry Brown. Earl Warren went on to become the U.S. Supreme Court’s chief justice.

Prior to his appointment as Attorney General, he represented parts of Alameda, Oakland and San Leandro in the State Assembly. As a legislator, he became a national leader on criminal justice issues and passed laws to strengthen consumer and worker protections. He introduced the resolution to create Larry Itliong Day honoring the late labor leader and bills to require students learn about the stories of immigrants and heroes of color like Itliong.

As the son of leaders in the farmworkers’ movement, Rob saw firsthand how those without access to power and wealth are too often cheated and taken advantage of by those with both. Rob’s parents taught him that harm done to any one person is a crime against all of us, and he decided to become a public attorney so he could win justice for the people like the farmworker families he knew as a kid.

Bonta's wife, Mia Bonta, also won her re-election representing the same district Rob Bonta represented in the State Assembly.

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