Michael E. Gates, a Republican and former Huntington Beach city attorney, is running for California attorney general in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta, according to the California secretary of state’s official voter guide.
The attorney general leads the California Department of Justice, enforces state laws and represents the state in civil and criminal court cases. The office’s responsibilities include consumer protection, civil rights and oversight of law enforcement.
Gates has made public safety a central theme of his campaign.
“Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one,” he wrote in his candidate statement in the official voter guide.
Candidate information
Party: Republican.
Residence: Huntington Beach, according to his campaign biography.
Education: Gates earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University and a law degree from Chapman University School of Law, according to Ballotpedia.
Family: In his official voter guide statement, Gates described himself as a husband of 30 years and father of five.
Experience and public service
Gates was elected Huntington Beach city attorney in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022, according to his campaign biography. Before entering public office, he worked as a litigation attorney and became a partner at an Orange County law firm.
His campaign says he established a local criminal prosecution program in Huntington Beach in 2017, focusing on misdemeanor offenses.
In 2025, Gates served as a deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. He left that position in November 2025, according to LAist’s reporting.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Gates’ campaign platform and his statement in the official voter guide.
Public safety: Gates says he would prioritize enforcing Proposition 36, prosecuting violent and repeat offenders, pursuing drug traffickers and working with local prosecutors and police.
Housing and environmental protection: Gates supports greater local control over zoning and housing decisions. He says he would challenge state mandates that override local plans and enforce environmental protections affecting coastal areas, habitats, water supplies and fire-prone land.
Homelessness: Gates supports treatment for addiction and severe mental illness, enforcement of laws governing public drug use and encampments, and greater scrutiny of homelessness spending.
Government accountability: Gates proposes investigating fraud, seeking repayment of misused public funds and pursuing public officials or contractors who break the law. He supports public reporting and independent audits.
Election administration: Gates says he would investigate credible election complaints, enforce voter-roll requirements and protect lawful ballot access.
Gun rights: Gates supports Second Amendment protections and streamlining concealed-carry permit processes while focusing enforcement on violent offenders and illegal firearms.
Schools and parental rights: Gates supports restricting transgender girls’ participation in girls’ sports and expanding parental notification concerning students’ gender identity.
Endorsements
Gates’ campaign endorsement page lists supporters including the California Republican Party, California Republican Assembly, California Parents Union, California Rifle & Pistol Association and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association PAC.
The Palo Alto Ledger candidate questionnaire was sent to Michael E. Gates’ campaign. No response was received as of Oct. 16, 2026. The policy positions in this profile are drawn from his public campaign website and public records.
